Predicted Winners in BOLD

[14] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) vs. Maria Sharapova (RUS) – Sharapova will not have the easiest match here, but she should win.

[3] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs. Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) – Muguruza is on my shortlist of players who could hold #1 for a decent stint.

[18] Ashleigh Barty (AUS) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA) – Barty may have a quieter time advancing this time.

[21] Angelique Kerber (GER) vs. Donna Vekic (CRO) – I think Kerber is a sleeper here in Australia (an odd thing to call the 2016 champion).

[17] Madison Keys (USA) vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) – I like Keys to win this match.

[1] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. Genie Bouchard (CAN) – Halep should win, but this is an interesting match-up.

[8] Caroline Garcia (FRA) vs. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) – I could see this going 3.

[6] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) – Pliskova is another title contender who may be overlooked.

[9] Johanna Konta (GBR) vs. [LL] Bernarda Pera (USA)

[29] Lucie Safarova (CZE) vs. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) – This is tough for me as I think both of these players are capable of beating a lot of people.  50-50, but I think the underdog will pull it out.

[28] Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) vs. Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) – 4 sets away from the title last year …

[16] Elena Vesnina (RUS) vs. Naomi Osaka (JPN)

[26] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) vs. Ana Bogdan (ROU) – Romania is challenging the Czech Republic as the country with the most solid players on tour.

[20] Barbora Strycova (CZE) vs. Lara Arruabarrena (ESP)

Andrea Petkovic (GER) vs. Lauren Davis (USA)