Yulia Putintseva and Lucia Bronzetti will be among those in second round action at the Australian Open 2025 on Thursday, January 16. Here’s the preview, predictions and tips for these matches from Melbourne.
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Yulia Putintseva v Shuai Zhang Preview
Head-to-Head: There have been seven previous meetings between these two players and Putintseva leads Zhang 5-2. The last time they played was in Wuhan where Putintseva had won 6-4, 6-4.
Elina Avanesyan is a form player and while Yulia Putintseva was headed into her opening round match against her as a clear favourite, one could guess it wouldn’t be a straightforward one for the world number 23.
Putintseva, who had reached the second round of this tournament only once in her last three attempts, looked to be at the receiving end of another early defeat when she lost her rhythm while serving for a 5-3 lead.
Two breaks of serves followed and the set was lost in a jiffy.
And when she missed out on five set-points in the second set as well, it looked like it could well be Avanesyan’s day. Fortunately for Putintseva, she didn’t bat an eyelid and levelled it 7-5 before winning the final set off the first match-point she got.
This follows her semifinal appearance at the Adelaide International last week.
Up against her will be the 35-year-old Shuai Zhang, who is looking to make a comeback into the big leagues.
Having barely played any tennis over the past couple of seasons because of fitness concerns, Zhang had featured in just one match before this tournament this season – losing to Cori Gauff.
Ranked 204th in the world, it was no surprise Zhang started a 11/5 underdog against McCartney Kessler in her opener but the manner in which she got past the American would have been a shot in her arm.
Zhang was broken just once in the entire match while getting the better of her opponent’s serve on four occasions to clinch a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Putintseva will be a far tougher opponent here but we could see a keen tussle.
Putintseva v Zhang prediction: Over 19.5 games in the match: 5/6
Jaqueline Cristian v Lucia Bronzetti Preview
Head-to-Head: They have faced off five times, all levels included and Cristian leads 4-1. The last time they played was in Guangzhou last year and Bronzetti had registered her first win of this rivalry.
It’s a battle between two players ranked outside the top 75 and that could make it a fascinating one.
Jaqueline Cristian, however, is more known for her performances on clay and had a less tricky opponent in the form of lucky loser Petra Martic in the first round.
Lucia Bronzetti, who is ranked 76th in the world, is coming off a shock upset of the former Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka. That confidence by itself should be enough for her to start off as a huge favourite here.
While Cristian has beaten Bronzetti four times in the past, none of those victories have come on a hardcourt surface. Instead the only match that was played on that surface saw Bronzetti register her first win over her Romanian opponent.
Backing a Bronzetti win here.
Cristian v Bronzetti prediction: Bronzetti to win: 4/6
