Expect plenty of thrilling tennis on day one at the Australian Open with the schedule packed with intriguing matchups. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Naomi Osaka vs Maria Osorio, Coco Gauff vs Wang Qiang, Ash Barty vs Lesia Tsurenko, Ons Jabeur vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz, Sofia Kenin vs Madison Keys and Victoria Azarenka vs Panna Udvardy. But who will reach the second round at Melbourne Park?
Australian Open Day 1 Predictions
Barbora Krejcikova vs Andrea Petkovic
Jim: Barbora Krejcikova might take some stopping at the Australian Open this year. The Czech is certainly in solid form after her run to the final in Sydney. Expect her to kick off her campaign at Melbourne Park with a comfortable win.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Yesh: Krejcikova went from doubles specialist to world’s best singles player in the span of one summer. Expect her to back that up again.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
Johnny: Krejcikova just fell short in Sydney but had a great preparation for the first major the year. The fourth seed shouldn’t have many problems in her opener against Andrea Petkovic. Krejcikova is one of the most reliable players on tour now, she gets the job done in matches that she should win. Petkovic is a spent force, no longer a threat to the top players in the world. Expect Krejcikova to cruise through to the second round.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 2
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Lauren Davis vs Tereza Martincova
Jim: Injuries have hampered Lauren Davis over the course of her career, but she should be fit and firing coming into the Australian Open after an impressive showing at the second of the WTA Melbourne events. She has also been handed what looks like a good first-round draw on paper.
Prediction: Davis in 3
Yesh: Davis likes hard courts more than her opponent does here. That might just be enough to make up for the current disparity in form.
Prediction: Davis in 3
Johnny: Davis has winning form on her side as she arrives in Melbourne off a solid week in Adelaide. Davis went through qualifying all the way to the quarterfinals. Martincova’s preparation hasn’t been ideal, facing three big hitters, losing to Ana Konjuh and Madison Keys whilst edging past Dayana Yastremska. There isn’t a lot to separate the two, I’ll side with Davis based on her better preparation. Martincova is unlikely to have found much rhythm against such aggressive opponent this year, Davis can expose that.
Prediction: Davis in 3
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Bernarda Pera vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Jim: 2021 was a pretty disappointing season for Ekaterina Alexandrova and she won’t be thrilled at starting this season by going 1-2 in Adelaide and Sydney. But she faced tough draws there. This looks like it should be more straightforward for the Russian.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Yesh: Alexandrova produced some absolutely stunning tennis at last year’s Kremlin Cup. Unfortunately, she hasn’t looked nearly as good in any other tournament recently. Then again, neither has Pera.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
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Johnny: It’s always tough to get a read on Pera and Alexandrova. Anything is possible in this type of match, especially since both players bring mediocre form into the year’s first major. Alexandrova is usually the more dangerous of the pair at bigger events. I’ll give the Russian the benefit of the doubt here in what is a match that she should be winning. The fact that Alexandrova has won both of the pair’s previous meetings makes me further swing towards the Russian.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
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Ajla Tomljanovic vs Paula Badosa
Jim: Paula Badosa is one to watch over the coming fortnight, especially after her efforts last-time out in Sydney. Ajla Tomljanovic is a good enough player to make a contest out of this, but that might have to be the limit of the Australian’s ambitions.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Yesh: Badosa is a budding future Grand Slam champion. I’m not sure if it’s happening at this tournament, but it definitely could happen this year. Even at a home Slam, I don’t think Tomljanovic is pulling off this upset.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Johnny: Badosa is arguably the form player on tour right now. The Spaniard began her 2022 as she ended her 2021 season, on fire. Badosa won her third career title in Sydney where she won five matches of high quality opposition. One of those opponents was Tomljanovic, a 6-3 6-4 victory. Expect a similar result of this occasion. Badosa is simply the better player, she does everything better than Tomljanovic and would need a lot to go wrong to have a problem in this match.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
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