Watching the Australian Open is difficult for me, since so many matches that I really want to see are played in what is, for me, the middle of the night or very early in the morning. Here are some first round matches (one in particular) I think are worth watching:
Leylah Fernandez vs. Elise Mertens (18): Mertens is the favorite, and not just because she's seeded, but Fernandez is a really tough player to draw in the first round, and she could make Mertens uncomfortable. At any rate, it's likely to be a fun match to watch.
Karolina Muchova (25) vs. Alona Ostapenko: In this case, the unseeded player is likely to advance, but Muchova is capable of pulling a "reverse" upset. Also, when isn't it a good time to watch Ostapenko?
Yulia Putintseva (26) vs. Sloane Stephens: Oh, how things have changed, with regard to seeding. Which Sloane will show up? Putintseva has become a formidable opponent, and this could be interesting. (Or not.)
Polona Hercog vs. Caroline Garcia: I enjoy watching both of these players and think that this could be a good match.
And my top pick (and fingers crossed that I'll actually get to see it):
Hiesh Su-Wei vs. Tsvetana Pironkova (Q): The trickster faces off against the trickster in what almost has to be a highly entertaining contest. The latest version of the Bulgarian Woman of Mystery is one in which that great serve is now much more consistent. She's also cleaned up some other parts of her game, so Hsieh will have a lot with which to contend.
2 comments:
Ostapenko. Just because.
Two others for Monday that stand out- Zvonareva/Rybakina and the opener Osaka-Pavlyuchenkova.
I almost put those on my list, especially Zvonareva/Rybakina, though Rybankina has been all over the place lately.
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