Katie Boulter v. Ekatarina Makarova (Monday 00.00)
Boulter arrives in Melbourne with five defeats on the trot while Makarova has four. So why take a chance on the Russian?
Because she has not played an official match since 1 October. Of Boulters five defeats four has come after the start of this season.
The only Slanm where she has ever passed the first round is Wimbledon, whereas the Australian Open is the Slam where Makarova has had her best results. Only once since 2008 has she fell at the first hurdle.
1 point Makarova to beat Boulter at 1.68
For @unibet my outright preview of the men's singles at the 2019 Australian Open https://t.co/93zdzlz1bH
— Sean Calvert (@seancalvert1) January 12, 2019
Sloane Stephens – Taylor Townsend (Monday 01.15)
It can be very difficult to assess where Sloane Stephens is at, not least mentally. When in the mood she is perhaps the best around, certainly up there, but it can be hard to tell when she is “switched on”.
She has played three matches in this early season and lost two. She has been bageled in two of the three.
The last three times she played in Melbourne, she lost in the first round and we need to go back to 2013 to find a match she has won by more than fem games.
It would be a surprise if Townsend actually ended up winning, but she has reached the second round of the last three Slams.
On her day she is a decent server and she will certainly be motivated against her fellow American. Stephens will probably win but not necessarily with six games to spare.
3 points Townsend to beat Stephens by handicap +5.5 games at 1.86
Ashleigh Barty – Luksika Kumkhum (Monday 08.00)
Barty has enjoyed a fine start to the year with two wins from three at the Hopman Cup and reaching the final in Sydney, which was eventually lost after three tight sets against Petra Kvitova.
She has an eye on finally breaking the top 10 this season and she is a lovely player. Nevertheless, it is rare for here to actually just blow her opponent away.
Left it all out there but it wasn’t enough tonight. Too good @Petra_Kvitova! It’s always a pleasure sharing the court with you.
Thank you Sydney!! Onto Melbourne we go pic.twitter.com/cpDqyPUSY6— Ash Barty (@ashbar96) January 12, 2019
She has never won a match by more than six games in Melbourne. Of all the matches she has played since 27 August only one was won by more than six games.
Kumkhum reached the third round last year beating Belinda Bencic on the way and she has played Barty before, losing the most recent encounter by four games.
It would be a huge surprise should she beat the Australian, but I doubt she will have it as easy as the odds suggests.
3 points Kumkhum to beat Barty by handicap +6.5 games at 1.84
A. van Uytvanck – Caroline Wozniacki (Monday 08.00)
The defending champion enters the court during Monday morning and this looks like an encounter where she should be able to get her title defence safely on the way.
Van Uytvanck can be a tricky opponent on a surface she likes but outdoor hard court is just not one of those surfaces.
She has played the US Open six times without ever passing the 1st round in New York. She has played the Australian Open four times and has yet to win a match.
Actually, she has yet to win a set here. The only Major where she has passed the 1st round three times is the French Open on clay. Her only previous meeting with Wozniacki was last year on clay.
The Dane ended up winning by seven games to spare in two comfortable set.
2 points Wozniacki winning 2-0 in sets at 1.53
Best bets
1 point Makarova to beat Boulter at 1.68
3 points Townsend to beat Stephens by handicap +5.5 games at 1.86
3 points Kumkhum to beat Barty by handicap +6.5 games at 1.84
2 points Wozniacki winning 2-0 in sets at 1.53
