{"id":54141,"date":"2023-01-14T19:30:59","date_gmt":"2023-01-15T00:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=54141"},"modified":"2023-01-14T18:49:30","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T23:49:30","slug":"australian-open-womens-singles-roundtable-predictions-champion-dark-horse-early-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2023\/01\/14\/australian-open-womens-singles-roundtable-predictions-champion-dark-horse-early-exit\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Australian Open Women\u2019s Singles Roundtable Predictions: Champion, Dark Horse, and Early Exit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of the first Grand Slam of 2023, five Last Word on Tennis writers \u2013 Vithun Illankovan (@VitIllankovan<\/a>), Damian Kust (@damiankust<\/a>), Jack Edward, Shane Black, and Jakub Bobro \u2013 make their Australian Open predictions for the Women\u2019s Singles tournament. We will also have a separate roundtable for the Men\u2019s Singles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Champion<\/span><\/h4>\n

Who will win the Australian Open?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Vithun<\/em>: (1) Iga Swiatek [POL]<\/strong><\/p>\n

One bad loss at the United Cup is not going to change my prediction at the end of last year<\/a> for the 2023 Australian Open<\/a> women\u2019s champion, especially as it was only after three comfortable straight-set wins. Yes, Swiatek does have a tough draw but she had a tough draw at the US Open<\/a> last year and she ended up with the champion\u2019s trophy despite much worse form leading up to the tournament (in addition to her dislike for the tennis balls they used there). For me, this tournament is still for the World No.1 to win.<\/p>\n

Damian<\/em>: (3) Jessica Pegula [USA]<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the women\u2019s side, it once again feels like picking a name out of the hat. World No. 1 Iga \u015awi\u0105tek is a contender, but it could possibly turn out that it\u2019s simply too fast for her. Then we\u2019re left with a number of probable options, some of them not necessarily among the highest seeds. I\u2019m going with Jessica Pegula, which admittedly is a slight overreaction to how good she looked once she got going at the United Cup. She\u2019s demonstrated that she generally wins the matches she\u2019s supposed to though and I think if she goes out early, it will be to an astonishing performance from a dangerous opponent.<\/p>\n

Jack<\/em>: (3) Jessica Pegula [USA]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iga \u015awi\u0105tek\u2019s loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals of the United Cup was no accident. The one-sidedness of it had to be partly down to Swiatek but the actual result would likely have been the same that day had the Pole been decently above her average. Pegula was outstanding, putting on a performance that could level a draw of 128.<\/p>\n

The fact Pegula is one of the only players with the confidence to play Swiatek is only half the battle. She has also proved herself one of the most consistent players on the tour in making the quarters of three the four Slams she played last year. In an era where the margins are so close on the WTA Tour, that kind of reliability is hard to come by.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>