Yesterday the tournament was able to catch up after Monday’s half-rainout, but it may be challenging to stay on schedule with rain forecast later in the day on Wednesday. Names like Serena, Roger, Novak, Petra, Naomi, and Ash will be pleased to be scheduled on courts with roofs. And in the day’s most intriguing matchup, the retiring Caroline Wozniacki faces one of the WTA’s fastest-rising stars.
Dayana Yastremska (23) vs. Caroline Wozniacki
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These two players not only have completely different styles, but are in polar opposite times in their careers. The 19-year-old Yastremska has a big game, and seems to be well on her way to the top of the game. A year ago, the Ukrainian was ranked outside the top 50, but is now poised to enter the top 20. She won 36 matches in 2019, with two titles. And Dayana added Sascha Bajin to her team in the offseason, which has already paid dividends. Yastremska reached the final last week in Adelaide, thanks to wins over three top 20 players. By contrast, Wozniacki was only 20-15 last year, following her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. And while Caroline was the champion here two years ago, that’s the only time in the last six years that’s she’s gone beyond the third round in Melbourne. However, Caroline has the type of game that can disarm the powerful teenager. At the US Open last summer, we saw Elina Svitolina draw error after error off the racket of Yastremska, in a decisive 6-2, 6-0 thrashing. On what’s forecast to be an extremely windy day in Australia, the steadiness and experience of Wozniacki could be the deciding factors. I think Caroline just might score one more big win before heading into retirement.
Naomi Osaka (3) vs. Saisai Zheng
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Since bowing out in the fourth round of the US Open in September, Osaka has been the hottest player on the WTA tour. Naomi promptly went on a 14-match winning streak, which included titles in Osaka and Beijing. The only match she’s lost since September was two weeks ago in Brisbane to Karolina Pliskova, a contest in which Osaka held match points. Her opponent today is 6-19 lifetime at Majors, and had lost five straight Slam matches before her opening round win on Monday. That being said, Zheng can certainly play on hard courts: she won her first WTA title last summer in San Jose. But without the fire power and movement of Osaka, the Japanese No.1 should prove too much for the Chinese No.3.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (6) Philipp Kohlschreiber
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This is a battle of one-handed backhands from different generations. For the 36-year-old German, this is his 62nd main draw appearance at a Major. He spent 10 straight years ranked inside the top 50, though he is now ranked 79th in the world. But he’s undefeated in 2020, coming off a Challenger title win to start the year and a straight set victory in his opening round here. For the 21-year-old Tsitsipas, this is his 11th main draw appearance at a Major, and was on a three-match losing streak at Slams prior to his first round victory on Monday. After winning the biggest title of his career at the ATP Finals, Tsitsipas went just 1-2 at the ATP Cup two weeks ago. He was rather emotional at that event, even wounding his father while venting his frustration in a racket breaking fit. Kohlschreiber is still capable of upsetting big names, as we saw last March at Indian Wells when he took out Novak Djokovic. But Tsitsipas should have plenty of game to take care of the veteran, as Stefanos looks to defend his semifinal points from last year.
Benoit Paire (29) vs. Marin Cilic
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With these two players involved, is there any chance this doesn’t turn into an epic drama? Both players are prone to making matches more complicated than necessary. Paire is also known to have a French flare for dramatics, though he’s the higher-seeded and much more confident player at this time. Paire accumulated 42 match wins and two titles in 2019. Cilic was a finalist here just two years ago, but last year had almost as many losses as wins. Marin has severely struggled since choking away many leads in the second half of the 2018 season. Cilic though holds a 4-1 edge in their head-to-head, with Paire’s only victory coming in their first encounter seven years ago. Both men played just yesterday, with Cilic winning in straights while Paire went five. And Paire is only 6-8 lifetime at the Australian. Considering all that, I give Cilic the slight edge despite his recent slump.
Petra Kvitova (7) vs. Paula Badosa
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Both of these players won their first round matches by a score of 6-1, 6-0. Kvitova was a finalist here a year ago, and was a semifinalist to start the year in Brisbane. Petra seems to be following her recent pattern of performing well in the first six months of the season. Badosa is a 22-year-old Spaniard, and her dominant win on Monday was her first at a Major. Back in 2015, there was a lot of buzz regarding the then-teenager being a future star. The WTA has a great look at her last few years here. Paula is very open about her physical and mental struggles. With the help of Xavi Budo, former coach of Carla Suarez Navarro, she’s feeling better about her tennis. She went on a tear at ITF-level events in October, garnering 12 match wins in that month alone. As usual, this is a match where Kvitova should be able to control her destiny. Her powerful serve and groundstrokes should be enough to advance in their first meeting, although the heat and the wind are not two of Petra’s favorite things.
Other notable matches on Day 3:
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- Seven-time champion Serena Williams (8), in her quest to tie Australia’s Margaret Court with her 24th Major singles title, vs. Tamara Zidansek, a 22-year-old from Slovenia.
- Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic (2) vs. Tatsuma Ito (WC), a 31-year-old Japanese who just yesterday gained his first Major win in nearly six years.
- Six-time champion Roger Federer (3) vs. Filip Krajinovic, a surprise finalist from the 2017 Paris Masters. Federer needed just 81 minutes to prevail on Monday, while Krajinovic required nearly four hours to win in five just yesterday.
- Australian favorite Ash Barty (1) vs. Polona Hercog, a 29-year-old from Slovenia who is 3-9 lifetime in Melbourne.
- 15-year-old sensation Coco Gauff, fresh off her second career victory over Venus Williams, vs. Sorana Cirstea, a 29-year-old who was a French Open quarterfinalist back in 2009.
