The first round of the women’s singles at the Australian Open concludes on Day 3 of the event. The final 20 matches of the round should provide blockbuster entertainment, including multiple meetings of former Slam champions. As always, we at The News Track(TNT) share our thoughts on all the matches. We split the 20 matches between this and four other articles. Those articles feature Iga Swiatek vs Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi, Jessica Pegula vs Rebecca Marino, and Emma Raducanu vs Shelby Rogers. Predicting these matches are Jack Edward, Glenys Furness, and Jordan Reynolds. Who do you think will advance?

Australian Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions

Sloane Stephens vs Olivia Gadecki
Jack:
The last time Stephens won a match at the Australian Open was 2019. Perhaps there’s something about the stifling conditions or maybe she’s just been unlucky with her draws. Either way, Gadecki has shown plenty of recent promise and will be unperturbed by the occasion.
Prediction: Gadecki in 3

Glenys:
American Stephens has lost early in the run up events in the Australian swing. Gadecki hasn’t fared much better either so this will be an interesting match up. Although Stephens is higher ranked, Gadecki will have the Australian crowd behind her so could progress through.
Prediction: Gadecki in 3

Jordan:
Drawing a former Grand Slam champion is usually a disaster for a wild card player. However, Stephens has lost in the first-round in her last four tournaments in Melbourne. That will give hope to Gadecki, who will also have the home crowd to give her an extra lift. Ultimately, the greater class of Stephens should prevail, but her recent record at the event will make her a little nervous.
Prediction: Stephens in 2

Clara Burel vs Aleksandra Krunic
Jack:
Burel is getting more and more consistent in her results. She’s less likely to beat herself than she used to be and Krunic hasn’t gotten any momentum going in her comeback.
Prediction: Burel in 2

Glenys:
Burel is higher ranked than her Serbian opponent. However, in a Grand Slam anything can happen. Neither have had much success in the run in, and Krunic has actually played more doubles than singles. Burel should take this but not necessarily easily.
Prediction: Burel in 3

Jordan:
Krunic enters her first Grand Slam main draw with a protected ranking. But in truth. She had been struggling to replicate her best level from the past even in recent seasons before that. Burel is a young player who is improving, and has a solid all-round game. I expect her to come through.
Prediction: Burel in 2

Katie Boulter vs Yue Yuan
Jack:
Katie Boulter’s blistering start to the year makes it difficult to ignore the potential of the Brit. Yue Yuan is in a similar mould of great recent results, however, so it’s tough to pick a winner. In hotter conditions, I’d be more inclined to back Boulter’s serve by a whisker.
Prediction: Boulter in 3

Glenys:
Yuan made the semifinal in Hobart last week so can’t be discounted. Boulter came through qualifying in Adelaide and got through to the second round. Boulter has not made the second round here since 2019 and has failed to qualify in the last couple of years. The direct entry this year should help the Brit
Prediction: Boulter in 3

Jordan:
This is an interesting contest. Both players have improved a lot in the last 12 months, and each likes to play aggressively. It will come down to who can execute that style the better. I will back the Chinese player to edge it, but it could be very close.
Prediction: Yuan in 2

Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Pliskova
Jack:
There are many calling Rybakina the best player in the world at the moment. Whilst I wouldn’t go as far as saying that, she isn’t prone to large dips in her game. Regardless of how quickly she starts, she should be steady enough to take down Pliskova relatively easily.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2

Glenys:
The Kazakh leads the head to head 3-0 to date. Rybakina also won the title in Brisbane leading into the Australian Open, although lost early the following week. Pliskova hasn’t had as much luck coming into the event. Losing in the second round in Brisbane and the first round last week.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2

Jordan:
It was a surprise to see Rybakina play in Adelaide straight after claiming the Brisbane title, and it may have been a blessing in disguise that Ekaterina Alexandrova beat her in the quarterfinal to give her some recovery time for the Australian Open. Pliskova’s playing style is similar to Rybakina’s, but the two-time Grand Slam finalist is past her prime. Last year’s runner-up is likely to create enough chances on the Pliskova serve to win.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2

Last year’s Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina looked to continue her upward trajectory after a breakthrough 2022 season. Did she match or exceed those heights in 2023, or did her level fall? This article reviews the Kazakh star’s performances throughout the season.

Elena Rybakina 2023 Season Review
Grand Slams
Rybakina’s Grand Slam highlight came at the Australian Open. After comfortably winning her opening two contests in straight sets, she defeated the 2022 runner-up in Melbourne, Danielle Collins. That set up a fourth-round battle with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, but Rybakina played superbly to triumph 6-4 6-4. After another two-set win against Jelena Ostapenko, she played two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the semis. Although both sets were close, the 24-year-old reached the final by prevailing 7-6 6-3. The final against Aryna Sabalenka was one of the best matches of 2023. However, Rybakina lost a thrilling contest 6-4 3-6 4-6 to narrowly miss out on the title.

Despite not matching the heights of last year, the defending Wimbledon champion had a solid run this year at SW19. After losing the opening set in the first round against Shelby Rogers, Rybakina did not drop another set on her way to the quarterfinal. She overcame Rogers, Alize Cornet, Katie Boulter, and Beatriz Haddad Maia, although the Kazakh benefited from Haddad Maia retiring in the first set with an injury. Rybakina’s run was ended by Ons Jabeur in the quarters, who avenged last year’s final loss.

The French Open ended in frustration for the five-time WTA champion. She had to withdraw from Roland-Garros before her third-round due to an illness that left her struggling for breath. The US Open was the only significantly disappointing Grand Slam in 2023 for the Australian Open runner-up. Rybakina suffered a shock defeat to Sorana Cirstea in the third-round.

WTA 1000 Events
Rybakina, who had never previously won a WTA 1000 tournament, broke new ground at those events in 2023. Despite a difficult draw, she had a phenomenal run to a maiden WTA 1000 title in Indian Wells, only dropping one set along the way. Rybakina defeated former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova on the way to the semifinal. She then demolished Iga Swiatek in the semis before getting revenge against Sabalenka in the final to triumph in Indian Wells.

Rybakina won a second WTA 1000 title in Rome. However, there was a greater amount of luck involved compared to her heroics in Indian Wells. Rybakina benefited from three retirements in six matches in Rome. Nonetheless, the Kazakh still deserves credit for securing victories against Jasmine Paolini, Marketa Vondrousova, and Jelena Ostapenko.

The 24-year-old also backed up the title in Indian Wells with a run to the final in Miami. This included a semifinal win against Jessica Pegula, but two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was too strong in the final, with Rybakina falling 6-7 2-6.

Other Events
Despite strong performances at the Grand Slam and WTA 1000 level, Rybakina struggled at WTA 250s and 500s. The 14-time WTA finalist did not make a final in any of the six events she played at those levels. Rybakina also failed to get out of the group stage at the WTA Finals. She beat Maria Sakkari, but exited after defeats to Pegula and Sabalenka.

Overall
Despite not winning a Grand Slam, 2023 is a year Rybakina can be very proud of. Winning her first two WTA 1000 events was a great achievement, and she came very close to adding a second Grand Slam title. She will hope her powerful brand of tennis can take that extra step at a Grand Slam in 2024.