Mon Jan 19 05:20:00 UTC 2026: ### Australian Open 2026: First Round Predictions and Analysis
The Story:
The 2026 Australian Open is underway, with 28 matches scheduled for the first day of competition. Last Word On Tennis analysts have provided predictions for several key matchups, including Iga Swiatek vs Yuan Yue, Amanda Anisimova vs Simona Waltert, Mirra Andreeva vs Donna Vekic, Coco Gauff vs Kamilla Rakhimova, Barbora Krejcikova vs Diana Shnaider, and Victoria Mboko vs Emerson Jones. The analysts Zain, Jordan, and Nurein offer their insights on potential upsets and expected outcomes for matches involving Jessica Pegula, Storm Hunter, Alexandra Eala, and Magdalena Frech.
Key Points:
- Analysts predict Jessica Pegula to win against Anastasia Zakharova in two sets, citing Pegula’s reliability as a counterpuncher and her strong hard-court performance.
- Opinions are split regarding the match between Storm Hunter and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, with two analysts favoring Hunter due to home advantage and fluctuating form of Bouzas Maneiro, while one analyst predicts a win for Bouzas Maneiro.
- Alexandra Eala is favored to win against Alycia Parks, with analysts pointing to Eala’s consistency and athleticism as advantages against Parks’ inconsistent performance.
- Analysts anticipate Magdalena Frech to defeat Veronika Erjavec, attributing Frech’s advantage to her bigger weapons and past performance at the Australian Open, although her recent injury is a point of concern.
Key Takeaways:
- Jessica Pegula is expected to perform strongly in the early rounds, reaffirming her status as a consistent player on hard courts.
- Home advantage and recent form fluctuations play a significant role in predicting potential upsets, as seen in the Hunter vs. Bouzas Maneiro match.
- Consistency and athleticism are key factors favored by analysts when predicting the outcome of matches involving players with contrasting styles, such as Eala vs. Parks.
- Pre-tournament injuries are a common concern, impacting predictions and highlighting the importance of player health, exemplified by Frech’s situation.
First Piper 