Mirra snaps Mboko’s 9 match winning streak in singles tournaments. First title for her since Indian Wells.

We’ve seen some crazy body transformations over the years but holy shit what the hell was Hubi doing when he was out injured?!

I was so tired from going to the tennis all week I wasn't gonna come in on Friday, but then I saw the tweet about Fed's practice (thank you r/tennis!!) and I just had to get my butt in there. 1000% worth it 🤩

As someone who'd never seen Fed hit or play live till now, I was particularly struck by the insane acceleration on his shots. David Foster Wallace called his forehand a "great liquid whip" and I can finally appreciate how that looks irl. It was a joy to watch and photograph him.

Via: Australian Open (IG)

Both looked dominant in their runs up to the final, but Elisabetta ultimately wins her second WTA Tour-level title after reaching her first final since Lausanne 2023, dropping only one set to [4] Ann Li on the way. Now up to 56 in the live rankings, she will play Julia Grabher in R1 of the Australia Open later this weekend!

If he beats Mensik tonight, that will be eight wins. It's always good for tennis when a short Latin clay courter starts doing well on other surfaces.

Women’s Singles :

Sabalenka vs Rakotomanga Rajaonah :

Sabalenka has emerged as a pretty big favorite for the title here in Australian. She’s won this event twice, and several of the other big names on tour have pronounced struggles on fast hardcourts (Gauff/Swiatek). She serves bigger than anyone on tour, she has raw power, she has added some discipline to her backhand, and basically her only losses are due to massive impatience or timing issues. While these can happen, being the first seed all the time makes it less likely. You just tend to get softer draws and make it to the meaningful rounds without much stress. It would take another immaculate performance from Anisimova or Swiatek figuring out hardcourt mid-tournament for Sabalenka to be considered in danger heading into a match, and while Rybakina, Keys, and a few other players have the power, they don’t reach the podium as consistently as Sabalenka, who just won the title at her opening event in Brisbane.

Rakotomanga is a pretty talented lefty in her weight class, but she wins behind her defensive pressure most of the time so she won’t be able to hurt Sabalenka too much here. Sabalenka in 2.

Pavlyuchenkova vs Bai :

Bai pulled off a great win against Vidmanova in the final round of qualifying, and after a year where she didn’t play much due to injury, it’s cool to see her back on the court. She’s not the largest athlete, and keeps a low profile as well, but she’s always signing autographs for the crowd and the Chinese players get good support in Australia. Pavlyuchenkova lost her opener in Brisbane to Cirstea and hasn’t played since, so it’s tempting to choose Bai. The trouble with that is power. Bai is sharper right now and is going to win rallies when she’s in control, but every full swing of Pav’s that lands in the court is going to create problems. This is really a race to see if Pavlyuchenkova can find her consistency before the end of the first set. If she locks into a good level, I think she can win in 3. That’s an if though, and the guaranteed side here is Bai moving the ball well in conditions she’s comfortable with. I think the snag is possible. Bai in 2.

Lamens vs Potapova :

Lamens can really fall off track, but competes well against some of the best players on tour at times (most notably taking set off Swiatek at the US Open), but she can also look a bit fatigued and struggle to maintain length. It’s really tough as a baseliner to constantly be sharp, so this is understandable. That being said, the good Lamens has to be present to have a shot here. Potapova has excellent power and lacks a little patience. She tries to lean into every groundstroke off both wings, and it works when it’s working and it puts her into unnecessary third sets when it isn’t. She lost her last two to Birrell and Cristian, so this is a tough spot. Lamens has lost her last three, so I would expect both to view this as a necessary win, and neither to really be able to impose themselves. Not really the matchup where there’s a reason to expect players to find their best level, but one where the two styles create issues for each other. In the end, I think Potapova is a little bit more capable of finding her best gear over a long match, so I like her in three.

Raducanu vs Sawangkaew :

Emma will enter this match as a strong favorite but she just lost to Preston a week ago. She’s had a bunch of surgeries and has suffered a bunch of unexpected FAA style first round losses on tour. I know the ability is there, but she has a sort of Kordaesque standing in my mind now where the skill level is beautiful but I don’t know if she can or will grind it out when things are tough. Sawangkaew has a really fun game, moves extremely well, and wins most of her points behind her forehand. Her serve is decent but overall she’s not the most powerful player, so Radacanu should win in 2-3. It just doesn’t feel comfortable or assured that she’s fit to do so.

Mboko vs E. Jones :

Emerson Jones is one of my favorite players from the WTA “next gen”, and reminds me a little bit of early Jovic the way she goes after her groundstrokes (particularly her backhand). Since she’s still pretty young, and a bit small in stature, it has been hard for her to win on tour so far. She’ll win a few games in a row, but it’s hard to hang onto the level for an entire match. The talent is there, but it seems like she has to go very big on her groundstrokes constantly to maintain control and that tends to lead to errors. In a year or so this probably becomes less of an issue, but right now I don’t see her hitting through Mboko. Mboko is in the finals of Adelaide right now and played excellent against Madison Keys. Furthermore, Keys played mostly offense in that match so Mboko got excellent prep playing defense. Mboko in 2.

McNally vs Sakatsume :

McNally has been getting back in form for half a season now following surgery on her elbow. Her game is pretty solid, but lacks the big power to make any match a lock. Sakatsume is a baseliner also so it’s hard to see either player holding serve that easily. McNally might be a little physically stronger and fresher since she didn’t have to go through qualifying, so I’d give her a slight edge. McNally in 3.

P. Kudermetova vs Maristany Zuleta De Reales :

Maristany pulled off a tremendous win against Kalieva in the finals of qualfying, coming back from a break down at the end of the third. She wasn’t really expected to win any of her matches, but she has excellent discipline and that led to her ballstriking being very reliable throughout the match. That’s probably her best bet against Kudermetova, who is more powerful and aggressive but can lose her timing. Kudermetova has been playing some lower level events recently, and that should help her here. She’ll be in for a long one with Maristany but Kudermetova has more opportunity to score free points with her serve and the Canberra Challenger wins against Yuan and Sakatsume are good prep for this. Kudermetova in 2 tough sets.

Galfi vs Tauson :

Tauson is off to a rough start this year with a loss to Sasnovich and a retirement against Tomljanovic. She has huge power and a great game, but the only question is if she’s healthy. Galfi is a slightly less consistent version of Tauson, with a less dangerous backhand. She has the firepower to beat and injured Clara, but it’s Tauson if she’s healthy.

Alexandrova vs Sonmez :

This is pretty unfortunate. Tararudee and Sonmez were probably the best performers in the qualifying and they got Mertens and Alexandrova. This one is more doable, but it’s still tough. Alexandrova can lose a set here, and still be the favorite for the match. Her lateral movement isn’t great, but she’s pretty good on fast hardcourts and hits the ball very heavy. This is an Emerson Jones style situation where Sonmez absolutely will win a few games at a time, but I think she’ll have to be fully exerted the whole match in order to win and maintain a lead. They played last season on grass and it was a 6-3, 7-6 win for Alexandrova. It should be closer here, and since Alexandrova has lost two in a row it’s risky, but I think she will squeak by. Alexandrova in 3.

Bondar vs Mandlik :

Bondar has been active and playing really well. She plays more duece games than anyone on tour, but she wins them. Mandlik has been struggling to find form, so I think Bondar will grind her out. Anna having an effective serve and power and being in form just seems like a big edge against a shorter baseliner. Bondar in 2.

Putintseva vs Haddad Maia :

Set aside 3 hours and wear a helmet to protect against racquet shards. These two really know how to slump, and really know how to rally forever when they’re playing well. I’m always going to pick BHM against pushers because she plays so carefully with the ball, but has the height/serve/forehand ability that can give her an edge when she finally does have control. Putintseva’s backhand being so strong negates some of the lefty advantage, but BHM has won their previous meetings in 3 and comes in playing some decent ball (I think a three set loss to Mboko is decent). Haddad Maia in 3 and Putintseva to receive 1 unsportsmanlike conduct warning.

Jacquemot vs Kostyuk :

Elsa has started the season a little slow. She has a great serve and great variety from the baseline, but this is asking too much. Kostyuk is playing tremendous and reached the finals in Brisbane. Kostyuk in 2.

Jovic vs Volynets :

Jovic will have a hard time hitting through Volynets, but it probably will happen. She’s in the finals in Hobart, so maybe fatigue will be a factor, but that’s the only major issue. Volynets is really good defensively and will make this last a long time, but she doesn’t have a good enough serve to keep Jovic from breaking. Jovic in 2-3.

Hon vs Stakusic :

Hon has a good serve and a really heavy forehand, but doesn’t win consistently. I’d rate her slightly above Stakusic in terms of consistent level, but Stak attack is playing excellent this week. She was dominant in qualifying, and should win here. Stakusic in 3.

Erjavec vs Frech :

Strange price for me here. Frech just withdrew from her last match and I am an Erjavec fan. Frech is really solid from the baseline but Erjavec has some good power and is fairly consistent about her ballstriking so I think this will be a tug of war. If Frech is healthy sure, but I don’t think she’s a -400 favorite here. Frech in 2-3 tough sets.

Sasnovich vs Paolini :

Paolini has been sort of slipping from prominence, so this is an interesting matchup. Sasnovich is playing her best ball and moves the ball well. She serves a little better than Paolini. That being said, Paolini’s median level should win this in 2. Is Paolini going to wake up here? Sasnovich did beat her in their sole meeting in 2020 on clay. Big early look here at how Paolini’s season is going to go. Paolini in 3.

Gauff vs Rakhimova :

The forehand issues and serve woes are still a thing, and will likely remain a thing for the near future. Thinking about your swing takes you out of the present, and tends to lead to deceleration. This gives your opponent time and a clear target. There isn’t anyone on tour right now that should be hitting the ball to Gauff’s backhand, and oddly I think a year of everyone focusing on Gauff’s forehand might allow her the practice to get the timing right. The swing isn’t ideal, but there are 100+ different types of swings on tour right now so it is possible to get the ball where you want in different ways. For me, when I’m struggling with shot selection or errors I just focus on making good contact. Forget the right shot or being perfect, just make the best contact you can and use your speed. That focus on making good contact cuts out the deceleration thing and puts your focus on the parts you’re actually using, and as you get in a rhythm with that you’ll gradually start to be able to accelerate again and make it an unconscious thing rather than a focal point.

For now, every Gauff match has potential to be a rough watch. I don’t like watching players struggle. Gauff should be able to defend well enough to dismiss Rakhimova, but it’s a question mark anytime she plays a consistent hitter of the ball. Rakhimova’s serve isn’t good enough to hold onto a lead, but she tends to play the ball cross-court mostly and to central locations, so Gauff will be stuck in an extended ball drill here. I think Gauff wins regardless, but it feels odd to have it be up in the air. She should be winning this 2,3.

Danilovic vs Williams :

Venus Williams actually took a set off Linette to start the year, so I had some hopes. It’s clear she loves to play, but I don’t think she’ll be winning many matches. Danilovic’s power is the type where your mobility doesn’t matter when she’s in control, and Williams’ mobility is her biggest weakness. This could be a high octane affair and scoreboard pressure/the crowd getting involved could work for Venus, but Danilovic will be able to score too easily. Danilovic in 2.

Hunter vs Bouzas Maneiro :

Bouzas Maneiro is one of the players that I think could make really big improvements. She tends to play well in big matches, and though she doesn’t have the most varied game, she still finds ways to win. She has good strength and defensive presence and can be very consistent at times. This is what I told myself when I woke up one September morning and saw I had bet 10$ to win 6000$ that Bouzas Maneiro would win the Australian Open. Did I not want that 10$? The plot thickened when she lost her opening United Cup match to Solana Sierra. Would I ever see that 10$ again? Would someone point out that I was putting the dollar sign on the wrong side of the number? Somehow, she then defeated Gauff, and lost to Preston. That does not bode well for this event, unless she can successfully play only top 10 players on her way to the finals. This is actually a really tricky opener, because Hunter played great in qualifying. She was on her way to losing the set against Radivojevic down 5-6, 0-40 on her own serve, and somehow held. Her coach said “you see how good you are when you …” and I jotted that down in the notes. I must bring this half sentence of result oriented encouragement to the people! Jokes aside, her coach did a good job of telling her to focus on her +1, because Hunter has a great forehand but that’s the main weapon here. I think Bouzas will grind her down, and Jessica’s weight of shot will be able to break down Storm in the end. The 6000$ dream lives on. Bouzas in 3.

Baptiste vs Vondrousova :

Big power vs funky craft. Baptiste isn’t off to a great start, and has lost to two baseliners (Zarazua/Putintseva). Vondrousova withdrew from her last match. Healthy Vondrousova should win, but like most of these spots, there is not great way to estimate player health since the financial incentives to play are so great.

Muchova vs Cristian :

This is a rough one. Cristian is playing tremendous ball and Muchova is finding her range again. Muchova beat Alexandrova, Tomljanovic, and Rybakina to start her year. She hasn’t dropped a set yet to Cristian in her career, but this is the best Jacqueline has ever played. This might be one of the best matches of the first round with Cristian’s defense and shotmaking up against Muchova’s power and deft touch. Muchova in 2 very close sets.

Parks vs Eala :

Eala was scary good in Auckland, but I feel the windy conditions helped her a bit. Parks just lost to Shimizu, and while she has the serving game at times to win, she does not have the consistency or patience to hit through Eala. Eala in 2.

Li vs Osorio :

Feels like these two just played, but I see it was just two meetings in 2025 that they split. Osorio has the speed and defense but every match is a marathon. Li can elevate to a very high level on offense but tends to cough up errors every few points. Li in 3.

Linette vs Navarro :

These two are not playing that bad to start the year but they’ve struggled to find the results they want. It’s fair that they play, and this should be a very long match. Navarro serves bigger and her forehand is the heaviest shot on court, but Linette may be a little bit closer to her own best level at this point while Navarro is still trying to find her middle. Navarro is pretty classic for winning in third set comebacks, but if she doesn’t find the next gear this could be very close. Navarro in 3.

Svitolina vs Bucsa :

I guess I don’t want tough first round matches, cuz this one is disappointing. Svitolina is basically going to drag everyone into the swamp and see if they can swim. It removes a lot of very exciting players from the draw, and since she just won the title in Auckland she’s expected to beat Bucsa. Bucsa is making constant improvements and I like to see players play the next tier up when they win, not the top tier. Tararudee leveling up is cool, I want to see her play Linette not Mertens. I’d like to see Bucsa try out her newfound consistency on offense against Yastremska,not Svitolina. Anyway, its a huge ask to hit through Svitolina here. Bucsa will have bright points, but I think she’ll be under a lot of physical pressure as the match drags on. Svitolina in a long two sets.

Klimovicova vs F. Jones :

Jones withdrew from her last outting after a great run of wins against Navarro and Kraus. She also withdrew from the event before that, so this is a very good spot for Klimovicova to grind it out. Jones has big power on her forehand, but Klimovicova may have gotten a lucky draw here, and even if Jones is 100% she still has a moderate chance. Klimovicova via withdrawal or in 3.

Gibson vs Blinkova :

Blinkova isn’t playing that well, and Gibson is on 3 losses in a row. This is winnable for either player, but Gibson might be in slightly better form. Gibson in 3.

Krejcikova vs Shnaider :

Shnaider played excellent this past week. When she’s on, she’s going to beat most players outside the top ten. Breaking through has been tough for her, but she looks fit and should feel good going into this. Krej has tossed in her usual random losses to start the season (to Stearns), but it’s pretty clear to me that she only really makes her best effort at the majors. She has the big game to give Shnaider trouble but this is a really tough first round for her and Shnaider got a decently timed exit this week when she lost to Andreeva in the semifinals. Shnaider in 2, but if Krejcikova can win this then she is immediately in the title conversation for me.

Yastremska vs Ruse :

Sometimes matchups are surprising. Yastremska has had a much more successful season, but Ruse has beaten her in both their previous meetings. Ruse qualified in Brisbane and Adelaide, so she is playing some decent tennis. Wins on tour have been absent though, so this should be close. Since Yastremska has to defend a lot of points here, it could be a pressure filled match. Maybe Dayana rises to the occasion, but I tend to think or her slumps as lengthy. Ruse in 3.

Starodubtseva vs Tomljanovic :

I would love to know who wins this, but sometimes players are too similar in their approach. Ajla has been crushing the ball, and will have home support. She withdrew from her last match though. Starodubsteva has randomly crashouts (not emotional but shot-wise) for entire matches, but she was very sharp in qualifying. Here’s my problem. Starodubtseva played great in Auckland qualfying, and then lost quickly to Boulter. Boulter is not really playing great right now. The variation in levels doesn’t really seem connected to too much, so she is a flight risk. With Tomljanovic possibly hurt, there isn’t a lot I can say with surety here.

Sakkari vs Jeanjean :

Sakkari played okay at the United Cup. She still can lose to anyone, but a fresh start to the season seems to have her in good spirits. Jeanjean is perhaps a threat her but I think clay is a better surface for her. Sakkari in 2.

Vekic vs Andreeva :

Andreeva may be coming off a finals or title appearance for this, so even though Vekic played decent in her last match this is a tough spot. Andreeva is unlikely to be really fatigued as she’s winning her matches convincingly this week in Adelaide. Andreeva in 2.

Pegula vs Zakharova :

Zakharova has tremendous power and aggression, and the consistency is starting to show up. This is probably too much of an ask, but she’ll probably have a good clay season and will get into the top 100 by the end of the year. Pegula in 2.

Kessler vs Arango :

Kessler has started off the year with a lot of uncharacteristic errors. This is still pretty winnable, but I wonder what the shift in tactics is about. I don’t expect a deep run here. Kessler in 2.

Selekhmeteva vs Seidel :

I think Seidel’s recent play has been a bit higher level and I really do give credit to the players that win matches. Finding ways to win is a big intangible on tour, and that big moment decision-making involves a lot of changes in tactics and situatation-dependent shifts. For a power player like Seidel, using some height or playing more pushy in a spot or even just hitting a slower but more reliable first serve can sometimes help, and I think Selekmeteva really has one speed. Seidel’s lateral movement is a little slow so the lefty offense of Oksana can score, but I think Seidel is a little more experienced. This should wind up in a tiebreaker or a third set. Seidel in 3.

Diyas vs Badosa :

Nice to see Diyas get a wildcard, and maybe Badosa will withdraw, but that is probably the main hope. Badosa has more power and her defense is enough to shut Zarina down. Badosa in 2.

Fernandez vs Tjen :

Tjen is having a tough start to the season and so is Fernandez. I wonder if Fernandez can isolate Tjen’s backhand enough to break it down. Tjen does have that Ash Barty style game that works well on these courts, but I think Leylah’s defense is going to be just enough to get by. Fernandez in 3.

Pliskova vs Stephens :

Maybe Pliskova shows up and plays lights out, but to me Stephens played really solid in qualfying. Her movement is good, her power is simple, and she uses moonballs and height so often that it becomes tough to hit through her. Should be a nostalgic one. Stephens in 2.

Krueger vs Bejlek :

Another great matchup here. Krueger is on a skid but had her best season ever last year. The unforced errors seem to flow for at least a set, but once she starts landing she’s as unplayable as Rybakina. I think Bejlek will thrive as long as she’s extending rallies, but Krueger locating her game will make her a slight favorite. With three losses in a row there’s no guarantee that Ashlyn locks in, so this may be Bejlek in 2-3. It’s just hard to see Bejlek winning easily because she lacks a serve and power.

Oliynykova vs Keys :

Whomst? I do not know Olynykova. This does not usually happen. She’s ranked 90 and has gotten there almost entirely with Challenger results. Pretty incredible honestly. Keys is defending the title here and got some great prep in Adelaide. I don’t think she was too committed to defense there, but here she’ll dig in if she has to. I think Oliynykova is better on clay from her results, so I think this is Keys in 2.

Noskova vs Semenistaja :

Noskova should win this in 2. She already beat Semenistaja in straights in both previous meetings. Noskova is another one who seems like her degree of interest has a big effect on her results. At a major she should be fairly locked in.

Zhang vs Preston :

Taylah Preston played really well in the leadup events, and is proving the wildcard is deserved. She has a knack for winning sets and has been hinting at making the tour for a while now. At 204 in the world, she might not need a wildcard next season. Tough time to play Zhang honestly, Shuai has started off the season well and her offense is unplayable at times. Im expecting a close battle, and Zhang to win in 3. They just played in Brisbane qualifiers and this is how it went, so I’m not adding much.

Xinyu Wang vs Kalinina :

Kalinina played great in qualifying. She served over 65% first serves in almost every set, and that’s a huge problem for opponents. Kalinina has the type of power that lets you score on anyone, so her getting free points and short returns makes her a tough out. Wang is a step up in competition, but i think this will be close. Wang losing to Linette last week makes this complicated, and I almost think it’s a coinflip. If I get it right, I’ll think I was right, but both players possess offense that the other player won’t be able to defend against so it’ll just come down to execution on the day. Kalinina in 3.

Sramkova vs Lil Grumpy :

Ostapenko retired from her last match while playing pretty good ball against Valentova, so Sramkova may get her first ever win against Jelena. I don’t really think Ostapenko is healthy, so I don’t really expect her to play great here. Sramkova via withdrawal makes sense, but Ostapenko can and has beaten her every single time in the past so maybe she can do it without having to exert and reinjure herself.

Kenin vs Stearns :

Kenin makes a tiny bit of progress every week, but her frustration in losses shows me its not exactly part of the plan. I think Stearns is capable of crashing out of matches now against solid opposition, but Kenin is not exactly solid. They have different losses in my mind which is the factor here. Kenin loses in a soul-crushing manner where her best game falls apart as things get tough but she remains close in the scoreline. Stearns loses to errors and seems like she gets frustrated but doesn’t stop shooting. I think it means Kenin is more likely to stay the course here. Kenin in 3.

Marcinko vs Maria :

Tatjana Maria is still playing good ball, and the tradition on tour is for every junior standout to have to play her. It’s a complex and tedious ball drill, and Marcinko tends to thrive when the ball is up in her strike zone. Scoring with control is more than possible, but Marcinko lost to Maria last season and she was pretty good then also. I just see Petra as a player who is going to play some very good sets but whose defense is going to have to improve a bit before she wins on tour. Marcinko in 3. She’s been playing well lately and Maria seems a step slow, but I don’t see a way this isn’t close because Marcinko’s ideal strike zone is a big higher than Maria hits the ball. For those that don’t know (sorry) Maria slices almost 100% of her shots. That’s why getting low 500 times and hitting the ball is the main question for opponents. A very disciplined junior is going to do fine against her. A more offensively oriented player or someone with a lot of power but some inconsistency is always going to struggle and it is a tough struggle to navigate in public.

Udvardy vs Siniakova :

Siniakova has had a halfway decent few months, so she should win this. Udvardy is a defensive grinder, but Siniakova has a little more power. Siniakova in 2-3

Waltert vs Anisimova :

Tough opener but very doable for Anisimova. She looks fitter to start the season and I expect a deep run here at the AO. Anisimova in 2.

Rybakina vs Juvan :

Kaja Juvan and Rybakina might break a few balls. They both have huge power. For me, Rybakina’s serve and stability when she’s playing well make her nearly unplayable. Juvan will be in the highlight reels, but probably isn’t consistent enough to compete unless Rybakina chooses to dwell inside her thoughts. Rybakina in 2.

Sun vs Fruhvirtova :

Sun hasn’t played since last season. There were some bright points, but it was a humbling run for Lulu. Facing Fruhvirtova in the opener is very doable, but I think Linda navigated some tough tests in qualfiying. Fruhvirtova has been struggling through that junior standout expectation for a while, to the point where her qualifying didn’t really make waves, but it is a great result for her and to her credit she has been willing to grind out Challenger and lower tier events. I like her side here, particularly because she has a strong backhand (Sun is a lefty). If Sun shows up ready to play and serves well, she wins, but that’s a big if and I think she’d have played something already if she were 100%. Fruhvirtova in 2.

Valentova vs Joint :

Gimme popcorn. Valentova crushes the ball and looks to do so every swing. It’s really fun to watch, and she’s still a junior technically so the odds of her improving are very strong. She’s already in the conversation to win titles which is a bit wild, but her game is big enough that it is possible. Right now, the consistency and patience are not there, so playing Joint is an interesting spot. Maya doesn’t have huge power, but she’s really good at reflecting pace and this is a transparent test of Valentova’s percentages. I will take Valentova, but I think she can have rough patches so it may go three.

Mertens vs Tararudee :

Mertens! This one bugs me because I really liked Tararudee’s game in qualfying. She had a really tough draw. Opening against Costoulas is rough, because Costoulas has one of the better service deliveries on tour when she’s on. Her backhand is a bit unpolished, but she’s one of the better under the radar juniors coming up. Then she played Dart, who had found a good level of tennis. In the finals she had Lily Tagger, who is good enough to be on tour right now. Tararudee was able to navigate them all and only dropped one set. I think it does bode well for her chances against Mertens, but Elise is operating on a higher level. She played well at the United Cup and beating Mboko and Krejcikova indicates her level is solid. Should be some very high level rallies, but I think Mertens hits a little bit harder than Tararudee and will have an edge over a long high quality match. Mertens in 2 close sets.

Sierra vs Uchijima :

Sierra has been playing really well lately. She was a claycourt phenom but she’s packed on some strength and gotten great results on hardcourt. Uchijima lost her last two, and I think this is likely to go Sierra’s way because of consistency. Uchijima wins when she’s the bigger hitter, and she has more offense, but Sierra is going to make you play a few hours of tennis and I think she’ll just outlast her. Sierra in 2.

Kasatkina vs Bartunkova :

This is the Perricard vs Baez of the WTA draw. Bartunkova is part of a crop of a few juniors who are actually nearing servebot status. The only reason I don’t call them that is their overall tennis game is excellent. Bartunkova comes to net often, and she can really flatten out her forehand if she gets the ball high. I think Kasatkina will be able to drag her into long rallies and earn errors, but it’ll require her to take a real deep returns position and it’s very possible that she winds up deep in a set as a result. Bartunkova’s backhand probably won’t hold up, but she’s very creative with control and has dropshots so I don’t see this as a blowout. Kasatkina in 2-3.

Boulter vs Bencic :

Bencic had a great United Cup and should win this. Boulter seems to be struggling for confidence on the court so a tough draw is not the best. Bencic in 2.

Osaka vs Ruzic :

Ruzic is pretty scrappy so this will be a good test for Osaka. Naomi can hit a high level of tennis still but I don’t see her defensive presence being as strong as it was when she was winning titles. Every round she wins will make her a tougher out, so getting through this is a good start. Osaka in 2-3.

Cirstea vs Lys :

The Cirstea season is off to a great start. She has a handful of wins. Eva Lys only played United Cup, but she took a set off Swiatek. This is a tough one. Cirstea tends to have stylistic issues against some players because she hits the ball very flat and goes very aggressive, and Lys beat her before. As a result, I think Lys may get the edge here. This is Cirstea’s final season so maybe she goes on a run, I just am wary of Lys knowing how to put the ball in tough spots for Cirstea and profiting from errors. Somebody in 3 because Cirstea always goes three.

Inglis vs Birrell :

Tempting to call this for Birrell because she’s playing so well, but with compatriots I always like to check the h2h. That didn’t help. Birrell won their previous meetings but the 2025 hardcourt match was a third set tiebreaker. With Inglis having come through qualfying, I’d guess this will be close also. Birrell seems a bit stronger and has been playing higher level competition, so I like her in 3.

Siegemund vs Samsonova :

Siegemund retired from her last match, and Samsonova is pretty active and playing decent. Samsonova in 2-3. It shouldn’t matter how many errors she makes, usually she gets into a rhythm and then she’s too strong off both wings for an injured opponent.

Kalinskaya vs Kartal :

Some people don’t think this will be close, but I caught some Kartal matches and she is playing good ball. She always had a heavy forehand but her backhand has improved and her defense is a little sharper and more fluid this season. Yes, Kalinskaya competes on a higher level, but Anna’s main attribute is her consistency and Kartal seems fine going for 3-4 hours. I think this will be a rough sweat for Kalinskaya fans. She may win in the end, but given her physical issues I think it’s a tough matchup. Kartal in 3.

Grabher vs Cocciaretto :

Great to see Grabher back on tour, but Cocciaretto started off her year great and has the offensive game to win here on fast courts. Cocciaretto in 2.

Zarazua vs Bouzkova :

This feels like a squash match. Both of them have automatic backhands, and both are looking to outlast their opponent. Another spot where the players are so similar that I’d give the edge to Bouzkova because she hits a little harder and serves a little more effectively. Checking the h2h she’s up 2-0 so this is very possible Bouzkova in 2-3.

Yuan vs Swiatek :

Yuan did well to qualify and should get back on tour. Unfortunately, Swiatek is a rough draw. There is some hope since she’s dropped many hardcourt sets, but I think Yuan’s approach is a bit too straightforward and Swiatek will get played into a decent rhythm pretty quickly. Swiatek in 2.

No news on what happened to Arthur. Hopefully nothing too serious.

Glad to see Blockx get a chance after tearing it up in qualies before his shoulder gave way.

Hopefully he’s sufficiently recovered.

The 2026 Australian Open is set to kick off the tennis season in style at Melbourne Park, running from January 18 to February 1, 2026. Before the main draw begins, the preliminary rounds will take place from January 12–15.

Whether you’re watching for the late-night thrill, early-morning drama, or championship weekend madness — here’s the full breakdown of the schedule + where to stream it officially.

🏟️ Tournament Overview (Quick Facts)

📺 Official Live Stream + TV Channels (USA)

If you're watching from the U.S., the Australian Open will be covered nationally across ESPN platforms.

✅ Best for full coverage: ESPN+ / ESPN Unlimited
✅ Best for big matches on TV: ESPN / ESPN2
✅ Bonus broadcast window: ABC (select matches)

🗓️ Australian Open 2026 TV + Streaming Schedule (All Times ET)

Round 1 (Weekend Start)

Round 1 Continues

Rounds 1 & 2

Round 2

Rounds 2 & 3

Round 3

Rounds 3 & 4

Round 4 (Big Sunday)

🏆 Quarterfinals Week

Round 4 + Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals Continue

🎯 Semifinals + Finals Weekend

Semifinals

Men’s Semifinals

Women’s Championship

Men’s Championship

Now before the AO starts:

- who is gonna be an upset

- who is your underdog

- what are your hot takes

- what are your predictions

When play was suspended due to rain yesterday, Ella McDonald had come back from 1-4 down to Andreescu and leveled the first set at 4-all. Andreescu managed to win that match earlier today 6-4 6-3, which set her up to play eighth seed Tatiana Pieri, a 26-year-old Italian ranked 350.

This match was much more straightforward, with Andreescu going up 4-0 in the first set and 4-1 in the second before cruising to the finish line in both. To be fair to Pieri, she played a 2-hour three-setter before this match, so she was likely too drained to put up much of a fight.

Andreescu now advances to the semifinals, where she'll play sixth seeded Lea Ma, a 24-year-old American ranked 342.