Shnaider in straight sets.
Don't blink, viewers, because the Round of 64 at the Australian Open presents quite the tennis spectacle. We've got Diana Shnaider and Ajla Tomljanovic going head to racket.
Diana Shnaider, boasting the no.12 seed, has been enjoying a rather pleasant Down Under summer while her darling opponents wilt in the heat. Sure, Shnaider lost a smidge to Putintseva and Vondroušová in early January; however, recent winnings against Cocciaretto markedly put her back on the curve. Lady fortune does not seem to love Shnaider a little; she's all over her.
Meanwhile, Ajla, dear unseeded, Ajla Tomljanovic, is flaring up intermittently like an old gas heater. A roller coaster of results followed her around like flies over the past few months. Admirably, she stood her ground and dusted players like Krueger and Mandlik, but couldn't fend off Yuan in October 24. Christmas spirit didn't break Krueger's frost either at the start of this year. Her performance may not be as consistent as a breakfast buffet; still, she's not to be underrated.
Melbourne Park's hard surface always brings out the interesting side of players. The medium-fast pace, high bounce, the spin options it offers, all these are simply irresistible. Ideal for those with thread-the-needle precision and more than a dash of brute strength, both ladies will be scrambling to seize control on this unforgiving arena.
Factor in all this and the fact that Shnaider's payout odds have got bookies nodding, and we have an answer bobbing to the surface of our prediction pool. As dry as a toweled swizzle stick after a stirred martini, here it is...
Albert’s Prediction: Shnaider in straight sets.
