Tue Jan 20 11:00:00 UTC 2026: ### Australian Open 2026: Expert Predictions for Women’s Singles Round 1
The Story:
Tennis analysts at LastWordOnTennis have provided their predictions for the remaining first-round women’s singles matches at the 2026 Australian Open. The analysis covers five separate articles, each focusing on four matches. This particular article highlights predictions for Gracheva vs. Golubic, Kalinina vs. Wang, Cocciaretto vs. Grabher, and Ruzic vs. Osaka. The analysts, Jordan Reynolds, Nurein Ahmed, and Ilemona Onekutu, offer insights into each player’s strengths and weaknesses, factoring in recent performance and playing styles.
Key Points:
- Analysts are split on the Gracheva vs. Golubic match, with two predicting Gracheva in three sets and one predicting Golubic in three sets.
- Kalinina is favored over Wang, largely due to her strong return game, although one analyst predicts Wang will win due to her baseline consistency.
- Cocciaretto is heavily favored against Grabher, building on her recent title win in Hobart.
- Analysts overwhelmingly predict Osaka will defeat Ruzic, although they expect Ruzic to make her work for it, with two analysts predicting Osaka in two sets, and one predicting Osaka in three. Ruzic is currently ranked No. 65.
Key Takeaways:
- The 2026 Australian Open women’s singles first round features several potentially close matches, particularly Gracheva vs. Golubic.
- Recent tournament wins, such as Cocciaretto’s title in Hobart, are influencing predictions.
- Naomi Osaka, a former champion, is expected to advance, but analysts suggest her opponent, Ruzic, will provide a challenge.
- Analysts are considering a variety of factors, including playing style, recent form, and court surface, when making their predictions.
First Piper 