Predicted Winners in BOLD

Rod Laver Arena (11 a.m. start) 

[3] Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. [14] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) – This match is potentially a blockbuster. Osaka won the 2019 Australian Open, and Muguruza lost the 2020 Australian Open final in 3 sets. They hold a combined 5 singles major titles and Muguruza has 2 major runner-up finishes to add to her 2 major titles. Both players can play incredible offense. Osaka is better at defending than Muguruza. If Muguruza cannot keep Osaka on the defensive, eventually Osaka will win if she does not win easily.
[7] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) vs. [10] Serena Williams (USA) – Serena winning this match is not an upset no matter what the seeding says.
[2] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. [15] Iga Swiatek (POL) – I think this goes 3 sets, but if Halep can deal with Swiatek’s awesome heavy topspin shots, her experience will be the difference. I think the lower bounces on these fast hard courts help Halep despite Halep being a great slow court player.  

Margaret Court Arena

[19] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) vs. Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) – I *almost* always get Su-Wei’s matches wrong. The exception was the last match she played.