Predictions for Day 3 of the Australian Open, including Navarro vs. Stearns

We finish the first round of the Australian Open on day three, with 20 women’s matches on the schedule. As always, we here at LWOT will be sharing our predictions for all of them with you. Will we have any surprises? Close games? Our authors share their thoughts. We have divided the 20 matches into five articles, the remaining articles are about Elena Rybakina vs. Emerson Jones, Madison Keys vs. Ann Li, Jasmine Paolini vs. Sijia Wei and Emma Raducanu vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova. Jordan Reynolds, Manuel Traquete and Ilemona Onekutu predict these games. Who do you think will advance?

Predictions for Day 3 of the Women’s Australian Open

Anna Bondar vs. Yafan Wang

Jordan:
This is a decent draw for both women, although Wang made a surprise fourth-round run at last year’s US Open. Wang is a little more adept at his best on hard courts. I will support them to displace Bondar, who prefers sand.
Prediction: Wang in 2nd

Manuel:
It should be a very close game, but Wang hasn’t played much lately and loses when she does. With that in mind, Bondar should have a slight advantage here, even though it will be a very competitive game.
Prediction: Bondar in 3

Ilemona:
Yafan Wang is on a four-match losing streak dating back to the US Open. Bondar’s strength and the tough nature of her game should see this series stretch to five games.
Prediction: Bondar in 2

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Anna Kalinskaya vs. Kimberly Birrell

Jordan:
Although Kalinskaya’s results dipped somewhat in the final months of 2024, she regularly won her opening round matches. Last year’s Australian Open quarterfinalist will have to be well below her best for this trend to end here. Birrell is a great competitor but lacks the weapon to hurt Kalinskaya.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2nd

Manuel:
Birrell had a great run in qualifying, will have the home crowd fully behind him and definitely has enough ability to pull off an upset in these circumstances against Kalinskaya, who has had a difficult start to 2025.
Prediction: Birrell in 3rd

Ilemona:
Kimberly Birrell is one of the qualifiers looking to compete at this year’s Australian Open, and thanks to Kalinskaya’s recent poor play, she could do so. Should Kalinskaya not be at full speed from the start, Birrell will be ready to attack. Expect her to cause a stir here.
Prediction: Birrell in 3rd

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McCartney Kessler vs. Shuai Zhang

Jordan:
Remarkably, Kessler won her second WTA title in Hobart, having been virtually unknown before August’s first triumph in Cleveland. It’s hard to compete against her after how well she played last week. Zhang is capable of great tennis, but doesn’t show it regularly.
Prediction: Kessler in 2nd

Manuel:
Kessler has had a fantastic start to 2025, with a title in Hobart and great tennis, while Zhang is one of the lowest ranked players in the draw. Under normal circumstances, Kessler should have a clear lead here.
Prediction: Kessler in 2nd

Ilemona:
McCartney Kessler just won her first tour-level title in Hobart. Maintaining the momentum of this run here at the Australian Open is crucial and the American shouldn’t have too many problems with Zhang looking a shadow of the player who fought her way to the quarter-finals in Beijing a few months ago.
Prediction: Kessler in 2nd

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Emma Navarro vs. Peyton Stearns

Jordan:
This could be one of the most interesting opening round games. The higher-ranked Navarro is a better athlete and offers more variety. However, Stearns can compete with almost anyone when she’s at her best, as she showed last year when she took Aryna Sabalenka to a deciding set tiebreak in Indian Wells. Something tells me Stearns could rise to the occasion and cause an upset.
Prediction: Stearns in 3rd

Manuel:
It should be a fascinating duel between the two young Americans, probably the highlight of this first round. But while Stearns has made good progress, Navarro has established herself as a contender and one of the best players in the world. She should definitely be able to get through here.
Prediction: Navarro in 2

Ilemona:
This All-American matchup will be the Popcorn Match, pitting Navarro against Peyton Stearn. Navarro leads their head-to-head race despite not yet having reached her best level this year. Stearns will be particularly motivated to snatch victory from her compatriot, but I’m rooting for Navarro to have enough to pull through.
Prediction: Navarro in 3rd

Main photo credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports