“You look a lot like this other person I played in Cincinnati and New York”

Predicted Winners in BOLD

ROD LAVER ARENA

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) vs. Coco Vandeweghe (USA) – I like Bouchard to win, but Vandeweghe has out performed my picking skills thus far.

[1] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs. Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) – Kerber got all she wanted from Karolina Pliskova at Cincinnati and the US Open last year.  In theory, this should be an easier match, but Kerber has looked less than stellar through two matches.

[WC] Ashleigh Barty (AUS) vs [Q] Mona Barthel (GER) – A great opportunity awaits each player, but the home crowd tips things in Barty’s favor.

MARGARET COURT ARENA

[11] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs [24] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) – Geopolitically significant?

[13] Venus Williams (USA) vs Ying-Ying Duan (CHN)

[7] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs [32] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) – I am not yet sold on Muguruza having found her inner fire again.

HISENSE ARENA (11:30 a.m. start)

[8] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs Jelena Jankovic (SRB) – Veterans going head-to-head for a spot in the round of 16.  I have an odd feeling that JJ reaches the final eight.

SHOW COURT 2

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) vs. Alison Riske (USA) – I watched both of them up close playing qualifying (!?) matches at Cincinnati last year.  Both players impressed me, but I think Riske is a little less likely to throw in a poor performance so I lean toward her in a close match.