WTA Melbourne Summer Set 1 2022: Women’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction

WTA Melbourne Summer Set 1 2022: Women’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction

Veronika Kudermetova, Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep

One of the most important tune up tournaments to the Australian Open, the Melbourne Summer Set will commence from January 4 and will feature big names like Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep.

Tournament Details:

  • Tournament: WTA Melbourne Summer Set 1 2022
  • Date: January 4 – 9, 2022
  • Number of Entrants: 32 (Singles), 16 (Doubles)
  • Venue: Melbourne, Australia
  • Surface: Hard Court
  • Prize Money: $521,000

Top Seeds at the WTA Melbourne Summer Set 1 2022

  • Naomi Osaka
  • Simona Halep
  • Veronika Kudermetova
  • Liudmila Samsonova
  • Viktorija Golubic
  • Tereza Martincova
  • Katerina Siniakova
  • Alison Riske

Women’s Singles Draw Analysis and Prediction

Top Half

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka

4-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka is the top seed and will headline the top half of the draw. She has been out of action since the US Open and will want to start the season on a positive note. She takes on Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in the first round and will face the winner of Petra Martic vs Maryna Zanevska in the Round of 16. Russian 5th seed Liudmila Samsonova will face Andrea Petkovic in the opener and could face either Clara Burel or Shuai Zhang in the second round.

Veronika Kudermetova is seeded third and will open her campaign against a qualifier. She is then expected to face American Madison Brengle in the second round who opens against a qualifier too. Czech 8th seed Katerina Siniakova too will take on a qualifier in the first round and could face either Anastasia Potapova or Australian local Lizette Cabrera in the Round of 16.

FS Video

First Semi-Final Prediction: Naomi Osaka vs Veronika Kudermetova

Bottom Half

Simona Halep
Simona Halep

Multiple grand slam champion Simona Halep headlines the bottom half of the draw as the second seed. She will face a qualifier in the opening round and could face countrywoman Elena-Gabriela Ruse or Australian Arina Rodionova in the Round of 16. Sixth seed Viktorija Golubic takes on Lauren Davis in the first round and will face either a qualifier or Seone Mendez in the second round. Golubic and Halep could meet in the quarterfinals.

Camila Giorgi was the 4th seed when the draw came out but she pulled out last minute and as a result, Alison Riske replaces her in the draw and is seeded 9th. She will meet Vera Zvonareva in the opener and could lock horns with either a qualifier or Saisai Zheng in the second round. Tereza Martincova is seeded seventh and also finds herself in the same quarter. She’ll face Ana Konujh in the opener with the winner taking on either Kaia Kanepi or Jaqueline Cristian in the Round of 16.

Second Semi-Final Prediction: Simona Halep vs Alison Riske

Semifinals

Veronika Kudermetova
Veronika Kudermetova

Top seed Naomi Osaka will be up against Russian third seed Veronika Kudermetova in the first semifinal. Osaka had a great start to her 2021 season and would want the same this season too. She thrives on the hard courts of Australia and would fancy her chances to beat Kudermetova.

In the second semifinal, former world no.1 Simona Halep will face American Alison Riske. Halep will start the overwhelming favorite and would want to put aside the troubles 2021 bought for her and have a fresh start. She is expected to go all the way with an easy outing against Riske.

Melbourne Summer Set 1 Final: Naomi Osaka vs Simona Halep

Final

Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka

The two best players of the tournament, Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep will lock horns in the final. Both Halep and Osaka are multiple grand slam champions and thus have a lot of big match experience. In their previous 5 meetings, Osaka has only managed to win one but given Halep’s physical condition, she’ll start as the favorite to win the title.

Champion: Naomi Osaka

Also read: ATP Melbourne Summer Set 2022: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction