Australian Open, three Italian women’s players on court on the night: a mountain to climb for Camila Giorgi, who is engaged against Azarenka.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto, number 66 in the Wta rankings, is the first Italian player to take the court on the third day of the Australian Open 2024. The Marche-based tennis player is counting on redeeming immediately the absurd defeat she suffered last week in Hobart in three sets against Kazakhstan’s Putintseva after having had numerous chances to close out the match and especially squandered an abysmal lead. In Melbourne, a first round on paper within reach awaits her with Swiss Lulu Sun, who came from the qualifiers.
The other Italian protagonist in day 3 is Martina Trevisan, also opposing a qualifier, the Mexican Zarazua. An opponent all in all within the reach of the Florentine, now number 59 in the world, provided she manages to keep the number of freebies low. On concrete, in fact, Trevisan is more foul and less at ease than on clay, her natural habitat: it cannot be ruled out that she will concede at least one set to the rampant Mexican. She has before her a real mountain to climb instead Camila Giorgi, who will face the experienced Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. The Italian, we know, if on a good day is capable of anything but the native of Minsk has appeared in good form here in Australia – she reached the semifinals in Brisbane, surrendering to compatriot Sabalenka – and starts favored. Azarenka also holds an advantage in the previous records with the Italian (3-1).
Here’s Kerber
On the night, the spotlight will also be on Germany’s Angelique Kerber, a four-time Slam champion returning to the circuit after her second maternity leave.
Kerber will make her debut in Melbourne without having played any preparation tournaments: there are many unknowns about her form, and the American Collins, though on the wane, is ready to take advantage of them. The challenge between Belgium’s Minnen and Denmark’s Tauson promises to be a balanced one: the Scandinavian has the stuff to go far, but right now the Turnhout tennis player, who is slightly favored, seems to have more of it. Also far from a foregone conclusion is the match between Sloane Stephens and Olivia Gadecki (in the main draw thanks to a wild card): for the US Open ’17 champion, far from her best days, it will not be a walk in the park. Host Ajla Tomljanovic, engaged against Croatian Martic, will also sell her skin dearly. Finally, we close with the challenge awaiting Emma Raducanu, who has returned to the circuit after a 9-month absence: with Rogers, the Briton should not fail.
Possible winners
Cocciaretto in Cocciaretto-Sun.
Collins in Collins-Kerber
Minnen in Minnen-Tauson
Azarenka in Giorgi-Azarenka (in 2 sets)
Raducanu in Raducanu-Rogers
US Open, matches of at least 20 games
Stephens-Gadecki
Zarazua-Trevisan
Martic-Tomljanovic
