The fans should be in for a day of excellent tennis as the Australian Open gets underway. As ever, 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, Barbora Krejcikova vs Andrea Petkovic, Ons Jabeur vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz, Ash Barty vs Lesia Tsurenko, and Belinda Bencic vs Kristina Mladenovic. But who will make it to the second round?
Australian Open Day 1 Predictions
Victoria Azarenka vs Panna Udvardy
Jim: Viktoria Azarenka probably won’t get back to the very top of the game at his point in her career, or at least it doesn’t look like she will, but the Belarusian is still a force to be reckoned with. She should have too much in her locker for Panna Udvardy.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Jakub: The two-time Australian Open champion started her year in Adelaide, where she defeated Paula Badosa and Priscilla Hon before a three-set loss to Iga Swiatek. Her opponent will be Panna Udvardy, the 23-year-old Hungarian making her grand slam main draw debut. This shouldn’t be too much of a difficult opener for Azarenka, who should advance.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Yesh: What can Azarenka do? She’s running out of time as age catches up with her, but when she plays well she’s still elite.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
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Amanda Anisimova vs Arianne Hartono
Jim: Amanda Anisimova has had to endure a fair share of difficult so far in her career, but she got her season off to the best possible start by winning the Gippsland Trophy and she will surely like her chances of backing that up here against Arianne Hartono. I like her chances too.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Jakub: The 20-year-old Anisimova is coming off of a tough 2021, but started her 2022 in the best possible manner. The American won one of the warm-up events in Melbourne, beating players such as Daria Kasatkina or Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the process. Her opponent in the first round will be Dutch qualifier Arianne Hartono. Hartono qualified but dropped a set to each of her opponents in qualifying. Anisimova should be extending her win streak to six quite easily here.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Yesh: What does Anisimova currently have? She showed some improvements recently, but she’s still not where her game was before her father tragically passed away a few years ago.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
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Aliaksandra Sasnovich vs Zheng Qinwen
Jim: Aliaksandra Sasnovich also found some form in the Gippsland Trophy, making her first WTA final since 2018, and she has generally enjoyed the conditions in Australia over the course of her career. Expect her to get the better of Zheng Qinwen.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 2
Jakub: Sasnovich entered the season outside of the Top 100 but after qualifying and reaching the final in Adelaide, the Belarusian enters Melbourne as a dangerous floater. Her opponent, Qinwen Zheng, will be playing her first slam match, qualifying or main draw. The 27-year-old Sasnovich should have the experience the dismiss the talented Zheng.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 2
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Yesh: Zheng has had some impressive performances at the start of this season, including in qualifying here. I think she’ll continue that against a solid but not elite opponent.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
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Marta Kostyuk vs Diane Parry
Jim: This should be an entertaining battle of the young guns. But Marta Kostyuk is perhaps a little further ahead on the development curve, even if she hasn’t made the best start to this season. Expect her to be the player to move on to the second round.
Jakub: The 19-year-old Kostyuk broke through at the Australian Open in 2018 when she was just 15 years old, reaching the third round. Now, Kostyuk rounds out the top 50 and has looked good in the beginning of the season here despite a 1-2 record. The Ukrainian beat Shelby Rogers and suffered three-set losses to Coco Gauff and Claire Liu. Her opponent, also 19-year-old Diane Parry is in her first main draw in Melbourne. The young French player started her year with a win over Lyudmyla Kichenok before a loss to Giuliana Olmos.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Yesh: Kostyuk showed some impressive form at times last year, but the consistency isn’t there yet. Still, she should be strong in the first Major of the year.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
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