2023 Australian Open WTA Round One

Swiatek vs Niemeier :

Prior to the Pegula loss at the United Cup the buzz around Iga was that she’d be a lock at the Australian Open. I wasn’t exactly of a different opinion, and I’m still leaning that direction. Swiatek has shown a rare ability to elevate her game to the moment. The further she gets in a tournament, the better she plays, so this and the third round (against Bouzkova or Andreescu) are probably the most concerning moments. Niemeier played her to three sets in the USO last year so you can expect Iga to be fired up early here. Jule has a lot of power and good stability on defense, and I almost expect another somewhat close contest. A first round is always difficult when the expectations are high, but if Swiatek gets her forehand going she should have control, and the short angles she can create off her backhand wing will hurt a player who’s a step slower than the Polish champ. Swiatek in 2 close sets.

Udvardy vs Osorio :

This could be close, despite Udvardy’s struggles on hardcourt. Osorio pulled out of her match last week with muscle discomfort, so there are big question marks here. If she’s healthy, her speed and ability to play long rallies will make her slightly better than Udvardy, whose variety on offense is more suited to clay. It’ll be Osorio’s first match in a few months, so there may be some rust. Osorio in 2.

Lys vs Bucsa :

Spanish tennis is in great shape. Bouzas Maneiro, Bucsa, and Bassols are all playing great, and Badosa is starting to find her forehand again. Bucsa’s power and offense are what carry her through matches, and her insistence on hitting big is what loses her sets. Lys is likely to win the chunks of this set where Bucsa forces things, as Cristina has somewhat become known for winning in three sets. Commitment to big hitting can wear down an opponent, and that’ll be the question here. Lys is more solid in my mind, but Bucsa’s ceiling is higher. Lys in 3.

Andreescu vs Bouzkova :

This might be the best match of the first round. Bouzkova is an extremely solid baseliner and she has that it factor when it comes to winning scrambles at the net. Matchplay can really be a bit too frantic for the traditional tactics, so for me any player who is hyper focused on the ball at all times is going to come up with the right shot more often. Andreescu is a similarly creative but technically sound player, and this is a classic offense vs defense matchup. Bianca has often wound up down a set, so her ability to turn things up may be necessary here. Bouzkova can be outhit because her forehand isn’t that heavy, and Andreescu has a pretty great ability to change direction on her backhand. If I’m Andreescu’s camp, I’m isolating Bouzkova’s forehand as she steps into her backhand with a lot of power. Andreescu looked good against Muguruza, and I do expect her to step things up in the big events. Andreescu in 3.

Cocciaretto vs Rybakina :

Rybakina has become a household name after her Wimbledon triumph, but she still throws in some random losses. Her approach is pretty singular; she has huge power and she takes big swings. There’s no panic in her, but when she loses her range or is rushed she can struggle. Cocciaretto is likely to look competitive in the scoreline here since she has a pretty good serving game and a lot of power and aggression, but her defensive abilities will be tested and a tough loss to Lauren Davis last week lends itself to the idea that she’s a bit fatigued after a finals run in Hobart. Cocciaretto is not the opponent I’d want to fade right now, but Rybakina in 2-3.

Janicevic vs Juvan :

Jenicevic came out of nowhere to qualify in Australia, but watching her game it’s a bigger question how she’s not on tour already. She moves the ball beautifully with her backhand, and the only criticism I have for her game is that she plays behind the baseline a bit much. The faster players on tour are going to get time to recover their position if you aren’t proactive about moving up in the court so it’ll be interesting to see how she does here. Juvan has a great game when she’s on, with heavy forehands leading the way, but there are always a bunch of subpar performances for her each year. A straight sets loss to Martincova leaves her a bit vulnerable here, and I’m expecting Janicevic to outperform the +203 line offered for her. Janicevic in 3.

Tsurenko vs Muchova :

Another spot where the qualifier has a real good chance. Muchova hasn’t been the same player since her semifinals appearance against Jennifer Brady. The talent is still there, but the results have been somewhat middling. This leaves her vulnerable against Tsurenko, who’s one of the more resilient baseliners around the edge of the tour. She has every shot, and she moves the ball really well. Playing her in an early round is not ideal, and since Muchova just fell to Masarova last week, this should be competitive. There are a lot of spots in this draw where one player is sharper but plays overall at a lower level, and this is one of them. Karolina could wake up and win, but right now that doesn’t seem like the most likely outcome. Tsurenko in 3.

Kalinskaya vs Collins :

Tough draw for Kalinskaya considered how well she’s playing lately. Her backhand is what she wins most of her matches with, and Collins probably has the best backhand on tour right now. Add in Kalinskaya’s serve being somewhat of a liability and Collins’ proclivity for aggressive returning, and this has the looks of a competitive but inevitable win for Danielle. Collins in 2-3.

Pigossi vs McNally :

Good spot for McNally to get her first win of the year. Pigossi is a solid player but her claycourt game is way ahead of her hardcourt one. McNally is at least as tough as Hartono, who beat Pigossi in the final round of qualifying, and a third set loss to Bonaventure the week before is actually a good sign to me since Ysaline is one of the trickiest offenses on tour. Competitive, but McNally should find her top gear by the end. McNally in 3.

Baindl vs Rakhimova :

Baindl has been on a tear lately and closed out last year with a bunch of wins. Rakhimova won their previous meeting in the Bronx 6-2, 6-0 but she’s been struggling the past few months. Baindl is playing better, but her style allows her opponents to play since she’s a pretty defensive baseliner. Set at a pickem, I partially expect form to trump history here, but 2, 0 is pretty decisive so I expect this to go three. Baindl in 3.

Bondar vs Bogdan :

Bogdan is a dangerous player in an early rounds. Her stamina isn’t the best, and she tends to play lights out tennis for a set and then struggle in the next one, but her ability to create winners from her backhand (it’s an interesting almost overhand production at times) really sets her apart from the other players who are usually in qualifying. Bondar has a big serve but she’s at her best on clay. I expect one very competitive set and one very Bogdan set. Bogdan in 2-3.

Yastremska vs Ostapenko :

If you can tell how these two are going to play before watching their first match, you are a wizard. Yastremska absolutely crushes the ball but her patience is lacking. Ostapenko has had much better results with her swing for the fences style, but her conditioning isn’t always the best and her attitude reminds me of a bit like a crab that a small child has hoisted onto land. This is Dayana’s first match, so Ostapenko should win. She’s coming off two losses though, so there’s no guarantee of this being simple. Ostapenko in 2.

Zheng vs Galfi :

Dalma Galfi is starting to really win sets. When she starts winning matches it’ll be scary. She has huge power and a good mentality. Zheng is probably the best player on tour right now as far as consistent ballstriking. She’s excellent off both wings, uses shape when she needs to, and has a tremendous out-wide serve from the duece side. This should give her an edge here, and I don’t think she’s ready to win a major yet but it’ll take a tremendous performance to send her home. Zheng in 2.

Pera vs Uchijima :

Pera’s tough to figure out. She had a very windy win against Brengle a week ago where she looked fairly poor. There are times where her forehand is a laser and there are times where she seems to be dragging the ball a bit. Luckily, Uchijima is not at her best and is more defensive so she should have time to find her range. Pera in 2.

Raducanu vs Korpatsch :

Tamara Korpatsch has shown a great ability to drag out matches and notch wins as an underdog. It shouldn’t be surprising that I have concerns about Raducanu winning this in simple fashion, but the good news for Raducanu fans is that she really found her forehand range against. The bad news would be her withdrawing before the third set against Kuzmova, but that seems to be pretty standard at this point. If Emma is hitting clean, she wins this easily. If she starts making errors and loses her confidence, Korpatsch is a tough out. Should be Raducanu in 2.

Gauff vs Siniakova :

Gauff has been producing wins this year, but it looks like a lot of work. She still seems to be winning with defense more than shotmaking, and her forehand still finds the net more than you’d expect for a top player. For someone who used a lot of moonballs and shape when she first made her presence known on tour, it’s a little puzzling to see her trying to knock her opponents over. Siniakova will be a really tough matchup because she’s solid from the baseline and played great in Adelaide last week. The argument against Siniakova’s form is Gauff winning the title in Auckland without dropping a set. I would offer that Auckland’s lineup was not as strong as Adelaide, and that Siniakova won in straights at the BJK exo in November. I’m all aboard with the idea that Gauff is going to be a future champion, but I don’t have a good idea of when that will be. Expecting a solid battle here. Gauff in 2-3.

Pegula vs Cristian :

Pegula is something ridiculous here like -1600. I know she’s solid, but 2/3 set tennis is a sprint and Jaqueline has a really solid offense when she’s on. I’d make it more like -500, but still Pegula should win this by a break in each set. Pegula in 2.

Sasnovich vs Fruhvirtova :

Brenda had a great comeback win against Bouzas Maneiro in qualifying. I actually would have Maneiro over Sasnovich, but Fruhvirtova is a different story. She’s a little physically weak for the tour right now, and got outhit for a good chunk of the match. Sasnovich is on a 5 match losing streak so this is close, but her ability to move the ball and the unfamiliarity of her game for Brenda should be a slight deciding factor. Sasnovich in 3.

Kudermetova P vs Gadecki :

I actually don’t know much about Olivia Gadecki so this is a tough one to be sure about. Watching Polina Kudermetova in qualifying though I would guess she wins this one. She’s hitting the ball really solid and was able to overwhelm most of her opponents. The swing production is different than her sister Veronika, but it’s a similarly comprehensive approach and since Gadecki is new to the tour I’m assuming she isn’t able to produce an entire match of offense. Kudermetova in 2.

Anisimova vs Kostyuk :

Kostyuk had a great run in Adelaide, winning through qualifying, beating Rybakina, and challenging Jabeur in a pretty close contest. She’s been charging the net to great effect, and it complements her aggressive baseline style. It’s a pretty even prospect here, because Anisimova is still recovering from a foot injury sustained last season, and she’s been good and terrible so far this season. Her wins are amazing, but her losses are huh? Whoever can rush their opponent here will earn errors; I think of Anisimova as a bit more stable overall but Kostyuk seems to still be improving. Anisimova in 3.

Krejcikova vs Bejlek :

Krejcikova has a pretty good attitude but it’s clearly bothering her that her return from injury is taking so long to see results. She got a sound beating from Kasatkina a week ago, and she opened at -500 here but I could see this being close. Bejlek is a really promising athlete (16 years old) and being lefty is huge in tennis. She made her way through qualfying with some huge performances including a war against Parks in which she was the stronger player mentally, and I expect her to give Krejcikova some trouble here. Barbora should still have a decent edge i ballstriking, but if this gets close there could be a third set in the cards. Krejcikova in 2-3 close sets.

Gibson vs Burel :

Burel should roll here. Gibson is fairly new, and Clara has been grinding the second tier circuit staying sharp during the winter. Burel in 2.

Kalinina vs Vandeweghe :

Kalinina is in for a tough match here. She has a great serve, but tends to decelerate in pressure moments. It’s not the worst move because it lets her land more first serves, but it’s a sign that she’s not completely comfortable with her own delivery. Her groundstrokes are huge and she’s extremely skillful, but errors can allow weak opponents to hang around in matches. This season she seems a lot better about focus, and she’ll need it because her opponent is the type to sap your energy. Coco Vandeweghe is a rowdy sort, but she has a really good serve and a lot of power. She’s as apt to lose to the #200 as she is to Kalinina, and I would expect her to win a set if she can break. Overall, she’s past her prime so Kalinina should advance, but Vandeweghe was solid in qualifying. Kalinina in 2-3.

Kvitova vs Van Uytvanck :

AVU is always a threat, but when servers play each other, the win tends to go to the player who’s better from the baseline. That’s definitely Kvitova here. She hits bigger and defends well to her forehand wing. Pressure is off for her as far as major titles, and that makes her dangerous here. Kvitova in 2.

Blinkova vs Keys :

Madison Keys is admittedly one of my favorite players to fade in early rounds, but she played some solid ball at the United Cup. Blinkova is finding her best tennis again and should settle around 80-90 in the rankings, but she might get hit off the court here. Keys on a roll is dangerous for anyone, so opposing coaches will be watching this match. Keys in 2 or 3 if she starts slow.

Hunter vs Wang :

This is a pretty even matchup. Wang’s singles success has been a bit better than Hunter, but being a lefty is a huge advantage and Hunter has home court advantage here. She’s been playing more doubles than singles, so Wang is a tiny bit favored here. Not entirely sure what to expect. The best Hunter would win this match, but she’s on a losing streak. In Hunter’s favor is Wang struggling to string good games together. Against Kenin she broke and was broken several times, and this was before Kenin really found her range. I think this will take 3 sets, and I somewhat expect Storm to be bolstered by the crowd and outlast Xinyu. Hunter in 3.

Jeanjean vs Podoroska :

Leolia lost a tough qualifier final, but she gets a gift here in the first round (and a gift from Tomljanovic withdrawing and giving her the lucky loser spot). Jeanjean has a laser for a forehand, and she’s a pretty great addition to the tour. Podoroska has been stuck off tour since her heroic French Open run, and this is the exact spot she’ll be looking for but the results just haven’t been there to indicate she’s going to beat a top qualifier tier player. Jeanjean in 2.

Azarenka vs Kenin :

THIS IS SO GOOD. THIS IS GOOD. THIS GOOD. HYPED. I’M. HYPED. I’m getting a bit squirrely typing this, but this is going to be an amazing match. Azarenka has just turned back the clock for the thousandth time a week ago in unravelling Zheng, and after a few really difficult stretches of losses, Kenin has finally found the court. Her serve isn’t back, and her forehand is still untrustworthy, but her backhand is back and that’s most of her game. These two are going to have a really tough time holding serve as well as they both return, and as well as they both defend this should come down to whom develops a better strategy. Azarenka’s camp will know that the game is on Kenin’s forehand wing. Azarenka won this battle against Zheng and she can against Kenin also. The reason I’ll be tuning in is because there is nothing stopping Kenin from continuing to improve. She’s young enough to get back to her peak, and she’s determined enough as well. Azarenka in 2 or Kenin in 3.

Teichmann vs Dart :

I’m not sure how to describe it without sounding disrespectful, but Harriet Dart is the ultimate tennis hustler. She’s rarely favored in the lines, she doesn’t have huge weapons, and she doesn’t seem like she’s winning even when you’re watching. Then she wins. She presses the players favored to roll her, and she consistently outperforms her ranking (she’s at 96 currently). Teichmann should be winning this one, but it’s really hard to say she’s going to. Teichmann had a good time in Adelaide and defeated Anisimova. Being a lefty is always a good plan and since Dart plays a bit deep in the court at times Jill Ann’s ball will probably keep her on the baseline. It should be an edge, but I expect this to be very close because Dart has a ton of heart and a great sense for the game. Teichmann in 3.

Zhu vs Marino :

Lin Zhu had the unsettling task of dismissing Venus Williams, and while she got the job done, it was a very shaky performance. Venus served for it, and she was the more offensive player throughout. The book on her for the past 3 season has been her lateral movement. If you can run her back and forth, you can win. Zhu really couldn’t. It makes me doubt that she can beat Marino, who has a similar approach to Venus but much more defensive durability at this stage. Marino has done well to get back on tour, and beating this type of defensive outlast-you style player is the next step. Marino has a good enough serve, and a very stable backhand. She needs to temper her offense here though, and work for the right shot. Zhu doesn’t give you a lot of pace to work with, and she doesn’t make many unforced errors. Should be close. Marino in 2-3.

Shnaider vs Kucova :

Shnaider is one of a group of some great juniors coming onto the tour. She was dominant in qualifying despite playing Zuger and Montgomery (tremendous lefty from the US). Kucova has a pretty good game and a two handed forehand which I greatly enjoy, but she’s not been at her best to start the year, and Shnaider is probably going to be playing at a pace that will allow her to be inside the baseline. Any veteran is a tough test for a junior player, but Shnaider in 2.

Yuan vs Sakkari :

Yuan’s pretty solid, but Sakkari should navigate this. I don’t ever expect smooth sailing since Maria is carrying around a bunch of baggage from big match losses, but Sakkari in 2.

Kasatkina vs Gracheva :

Gracheva’s shockingly young for her game. She’s just 22 years old and plays some really solid baseline tennis. This is a tough ask though as Kasatkina is at her best early this season just made a final in Adelaide. These balls are allegedly good for flat hitters (Gracheva) according to Nadal but Kasatkina is too good defensively and will keep the ball out of Varvara’s strikezone. Kasatkina in 2.

Maria vs Stefanini :

Tatjana Maria humbles everyone on tour. She slices like 90% of her shots, but somehow manages to play offense while doing so. She’s really good about getting to net, and even if you get ahead in the scoreline it can take a long time to close out. Stefanini is probably focused enough to get the job done here, and she played pretty solid in qualifying. This equation will be solved early on in this match. If Lucrezia can hit hard and minimize errors, she can grind through this. If she gets frustrated or down in the scoreline, it’s gonna be a long (short) day. I like her chances, and the 6-0, 3-0 dismissal she was putting on Vickery is the type of confidence builder you want. Stefanini in 3.

Putintseva vs Cirstea :

Putintseva is the tour’s most volatile pusher. It’s strange to watch a player whose plan A is plan B get upset, but it’s also fun. Cirstea should be able to win this match. More power, good offense, and their careers seem headed in opposite directions. She also has a lot of experience with three setters. Cirstea in 3.

Wang Xiyu vs Pliskova :

Wang’s only tour match this year ended in a withdrawal. Pliskova is always a risk since she doesn’t move well, but her serving should carry her through this one and these fast courts suit her. Pliskova in 2.

Zhang vs Tig :

Tig can be a really tough out on clay but she’s never been great on hardcourt. She also hasn’t played on tour in like 2-3 years. Zhang is great at everything, and never changes her expression. Zhang in 2.

Martic vs Golubic :

Feels like a match Golubic should win. She opened up the season playing great, and her main setbacks have been against bigger hitters. Martic is a skill player and Golubic has a more varied skillset. The plot here will be who can find their opponent’s backhand. Golubic in 3.

Volynets vs Rodina :

Rodina popped up last season after not playing for a few years and won a few matches, including Trevisan at the USO, which she backed up by almost beating Tomljanovic in the next round (3 sets). She’ll be up against it early here since Volynets comes in having qualified and with the home crowd. Should be a tough match. Volynets in 2-3.

Kudermetova vs Zanevska :

Zanevska had a great win last week against Mertens, but Kudermetova has improved over the offseason and she’s likely to keep Zanvevska from having enough time to implement her offense. Kudermetova has great depth and I don’t see her losing to anyone who doesn’t outhit her. Kudermetova in 2.

Grabher vs Kontaveit :

Julia’s much better on clay. Bit too much Kontaveit in this one for here. Kontaveit in 2.

Linette vs Sherif :

Mayar Sherif is always outperforming her prices, but her offense just isn’t coming along with her defense. This should be close in stretches but Linette has a great serve and she moves the ball well enough to get inside the baseline against the solid defender. Linette in 2-3.

Townsend vs Parry :

I’m a simple turtle. I see Diane Parry as an underdog, and I bet on her. She’s not at the top tier yet, but Parry’s backhand and overall court sense are. This is a bad matchup for her because Taylor is a lefty, and she has a great serve out wide. Parry’s one-hander will be tested here. Townsend also pushed Anisimova last week, so she’s clearly playing pretty well. Parry has had a tendency to go down in the scoreline early and make comebacks, and that option won’t be available here since Townsend is a great offensive talent. Townsend in 2 or Parry in 3.

Alexandrova vs Bonaventure :

There will be no effective defense played in this match. Alexandrova’s backhand is a laser. It’s scary when she’s winning, and she has exactly two epic weeks every year where she basically rolls her way to a final. IS THIS THAT WEEK? Idk. Bonaventure being lefty makes this tricky, and her having a solid offense makes this a shootout. I’m not sure Ysaline is effective at this level of ballstriking. Alexandrova in 3.

Zheng Saisai vs Begu :

Welcome back Zheng. She has a really good defensive ability and solid slices, but Begu will be able to deal with that. It’s never great to doubt someone you haven’t seen play recently, but Begu is better than Zheng when she’s active so she should have this. Begu in 2.

Siegemund vs Bronzetti :

Laura Siegemund is pretty tenacious. She has a great forehand, but is a little bit past her prime and at her best on clay. This should be a close battle since Bronzetti is one of the more hardworking baseliners coming up on the tour. Bronzetti hits a bit harder but Siegemund is a better tactician. Should take a while. Someone in 3.

Cornet vs Fernandez :

Leylah has been under the radar since her US Open finals. She had a great week though to start the year and left some people on some very low scores. Who were those people? What were those scores? That’s one secret, I’ll never tell. You know you love me. XOXO, Gossip Girl.

Cornet isn’t sharp yet and Fernandez is. This should be a W for Leylah but Alize seems to get up for the big name opponents. Fernandez in 2 based on what they’ve done so far this year.

Martincova vs Sabalenka :

Sabalenka is playing her best tennis so far this year. Her serving is great, she doesn’t seem disinterested like she has in the past, and she’s keeping the ball in the court. Her win against Samsonova was excellent, and Martincova is mostly only going to hurt her on the forehand wing, so Aryna should win this in 2.

Sebov vs Garcia :

This is a tough one for Garcia. Sebov has been rolling through qualifying and she seems really solid. She beat Noskova who can beat Garcia, and she beat Waltert and Hon in straight sets who are tour level players. Odds are that her serve is going to get punished here, but this will play Garcia into form very early because Sebov is a very durable defender and her game will be unknown to Garcia. Still likely to be Garcia in 2, but this is one worth watching.

Hartono vs Rogers :

Shelby is one of my favorite players because the earthworm from Adventure Time is named Shelby. If it were Shelby the earthworm against Hartono, it’s a clear outcome for me cuz Shelby is very brave. This will be a bit closer. The problem here for Hartono is that she’s been winning by outlasting and moving her opponents and Rogers is a much bigger hitter than anyone she’s been playing. Rogers can definitely error herself into bad situations, but she’s had a few great matches to start the year and she’s a great frontrunner. Rogers in 2.

Mertens vs Muguruza :

I didn’t really think Garbiñe’s loss to Andreescu was that bad, but she’s rated even odds here with Mertens who just lost to Zanevska. Muguruza’s struggles with confidence are storied, and her swings aren’t the most technically sound so she can become an error machine, but the WTA’s version of Cilic can also play great ball when she’s on, and Mertens gives you a lot of balls to play since she isn’t really known for her serve. Should be a close match, and I’d expect Muguruza to find a level that Mertens cannot defend against. Go Elise! Muguruza in 3.

Schmiedlova vs Trevisan :

Martina had a huge win against Sakkari in the United Cup, but the tour is constantly throwing challenges at a player. Schmiedlova is in great form, and hits a very heavy ball. I agree with the pickem price here, as it’s a new matchup and neither of these two has a distinct way to dominate affairs. Schmiedlova is slightly stronger, so I’m siding with her. Schmiedlova in 3.

Giorgi vs her percentages :

Giorgi actually plays Pavlyuchenkova, who seems like the ideal player to beat Giorgi. She hits a heavy ball, and she’s a veteran. On the flipside, Giorgi is playing better to start the year, and Pavs is no spring chicken. In fact, on closer inspection, she may not be a chicken at all. She’s lost the last 5, but this is really about Giorgi. As a form player, I can’t buy Giorgi stock until she wins a match. Pavlyuchenkova in 3.

Tomova vs Bencic :

Tomova is cool, but this is not a cool opponent to play right now. Bencic is all visored up and just won a title. Bencic in 2. Tomova, if you’re reading this, stay cool.

Haddad Maia vs Parrizas Diaz :

Haddad Maia doesn’t seem like her automatic self so far this year but she has the same defense and bigger offense than NPD. Haddad Maia in 2.

Stephens vs Potapova :

Potapova will get upset if she misses. Stephens won’t react if she never wins another match. It seems like Potapova is way more motivated and playing sharper, but it’s always been clear that Sloane is only focusing on the big titles. I expect her to show up here, but when you’re not playing hard all the time you can get snagged by surging players. Potapova’s percentages may bite her here since she’s known to force shots, but she should win in 3.

Vekic vs Selekhmeteva :

Interesting matchup. Selekhmeteva is newish and is a dominant lefty who crushes the ball. Vekic is trying to recreate herself on tour after falling off the rankings and has just started to hint that she’ll get back in the past few months. I almost expect them to break a ball. Vekic played well at the United Cup, but Selekhmeteva is a cut above most of the players she played there. Vekic in 2-3 really good quality sets.

Samsonova vs Paolini :

Jasmine can play spoiler in the right conditions, but Samsonova has reached new heights with her game. She’s a threat for the title here, regardless of how many cartoon earthworms I add to the draw. Samsonova in 2.

Birrell vs Kanepi :

Kanepi used to just show up for the big events but she’s been really active the past few seasons. Her power is too much here and she’s got a few matches under her belt already. Kanepi in 2.

Fourlis vs Fruhvirtova Linda :

Linda is just really good at tennis. The whole Czech junior tennis program is just thriving. I’m not terribly familiar with Jaimee Fourlis so I’m going mostly off the price offered. -400 is a good indication that Fruhvirtova will win, but given the market sizes for the two players it could be higher. Fruhvirtova will have to earn this one, and Fourlis just took a set off Kostyuk so it could be close in stretches. Fruhvirtova in 2.

Riske-Armitraj vs Vondrousova :

Last year, this would be a close one. Vondrousova opened up the year playing some ridiculously cool looking tennis though. Her defensive is impregnable, and her lefty forehand has been really sharp and staying right over the net. She’s young too, so her improving her game while on tour already is a great sign. Vondrousova in 2.

Zidansek vs Jabeur :

The “early round troubles” Jabeur has exited the building. Zidansek has a huge forehand but this is a tall ask for a claycourter. Jabeur in 2.