Predicted Winners in BOLD

[6] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs. Veronica Cepede Royg (PAR) – Pliskova has all of the qualities of a Grand Slam Champion, can being seeded 6th help her cause?

[1] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. [WC] Destanee Aiava (AUS) – Halep has handled the #1 ranking reasonably well, but a 1st major would give her a long lease on the top spot.

[18] Ashleigh Barty (AUS) vs. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) – Barty is a dark horse.

[8] Caroline Garcia (FRA) vs. Carina Witthoeft (GER) – This should be a pretty straightforward match.

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Tatjana Maria (GER) – Sharapova is among the favorites, but it is unclear who isn’t capable of winning this event.

[3] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs. [WC] Jessika Ponchet (FRA) – Muguruza holds two majors and might be the favorite here if her health was more clearly positive.

Hisense Arena

[9] Johanna Konta (GBR) vs. Madison Brengle (USA) – This should be a good match, but I see Konta winning in 2 somewhat close sets.

[21] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs. [PR] Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) – Kerber had a magical 2016 and a strong 2015.  2017 was pretty forgettable, but make no mistake if Kerber makes the second week she too could contend.  Kerber tends to play well when she plays a lot so getting through the first 3 or 4 matches could make the 2016 champion a player to be feared.  Kerber has to show the grit she lacked for 2017 though.

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) vs. Océane Dodin (FRA) – This is a bit of an unknown as Bouchard’s form is never easy to predict.

[27] Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs. Andrea Petkovic (GER) – This is a terrible draw for both players.  Kvitova’s return to the tour last year was a great story.

[29] Lucie Safarova (CZE) vs. [WC] Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) – Safarova’s doubles skills may give her enough variety to fend off a talented and dangerous Aussie wildcard.

[11] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) vs. Ana Bogdan (ROU) – I am bullish on Romanians, but this is probably a bad pick on my part.

[16] Elena Vesnina (RUS) vs. Ons Jabeur (TUN)

Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) vs. Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS)

Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) vs. [WC] Lizette Cabrera (AUS) – Aussie, Aussie, Aussie?

Carmila Giorgi (ITA) vs. [Q] Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) – The qualifier is match tough.

[17] Madison Keys (USA) vs. Qiang Wang (CHN)

[26] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs. Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) – Twin power?  A big serve dictates an upset?  A gut feeling?  All of the above for me.

[28] Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) vs. Shelby Rogers (USA) – Veteran power?

Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. [PR] Kristina Kucova (SVK)

Kurumi Nara (JPN) vs. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)

Donna Vekic (CRO) vs. Nao Hibino (JPN)

[15] Anastasia Sevastova (LAT) vs. Varvara Lepchenko (USA)

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs. Heather Watson (GBR) – Watson could use some positive momentum.

[20] Barbora Strycova (CZE) vs. [WC] Kristie Ahn (USA)

Jana Cepelova (SVK) vs. Lauren Davis (USA)

[Q] Anna Blinkova (RUS) vs. (LL) B Pera (USA) – It has not been a good event for US players.

Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) vs. [Q] Zhu Lin (CHN) – Qualifiers are match tough …

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) vs. Zarina Diyas (KAZ) – Cirstea has game, but can she translate that into a round of 16 here?

Polona Hercog (SLO) vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS)

Christina McHale (USA) vs. Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) – Can McHale buck the US trend in Melbourne?

Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) vs. Richel Hogenkamp (NED)