Australian Open 2021: February 7th Key Match Predictions

ROD LAVER ARENA

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) v 3-Naomi Osaka (Japan) – This is not the easiest 1st round match, but Osaka should advance in 2 sets.
Laura Siegemund (Germany) v 10-Serena Williams (U.S.) – Serena should win, but again this is not as easy as it might have been.
3-Dominic Thiem (Austria) v Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) – Thiem should win, but he needs to not spot anyone a set as Kukushkin is good enough to win a tight set.

Lizette Cabrera (Australia) v 2-Simona Halep (Romania) – Halep should beat the Aussie hopeful.
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v Jeremy Chardy (France) – Chardy’s serve and forehand will keep some sets looking closer than they actually are. Novak in 3 clinical sets.

Kirsten Flipkens (Belgium) v Venus Williams (U.S.) – This might be a sentimental pick, but I think Venus can win this.
23-Angelique Kerber (Germany) v Bernarda Pera (U.S.) – Can Kerber find her 2016 form?
Marcos Giron (U.S.) v 6-Alexander Zverev (Germany)

Greet Minnen (Belgium) v 9-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) – Petra nearly won this in 2019. Could this be her year?
11-Denis Shapovalov (Canada) v Jannik Sinner (Italy) – If Sinner is not worn out from winning a tune-up event, I think his training with Rafa pays off vs. another lefty. *MATCH OF THE DAY*

17-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) v Pedro Sousa (Portugal) – Stan should win, but it could go 4 or 5.
Misaki Doi (Japan) v Ajla Tomljanovic (Australia) – Home court advantage?
8-Bianca Andreescu (Canada) v Mihaela Buzarnescu (Romania) – Andreescu may be the most interesting player in the draw as she could win the whole thing, but she has been our of action so long that any upset seems plausible as well.
Frederico Ferreira Silva (Portugal) v Nick Kyrgios (Australia) – Kyrgios career needs a shot in the arm.