{"id":25710,"date":"2026-01-18T09:40:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T20:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/?p=25710"},"modified":"2026-01-18T09:41:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T20:41:12","slug":"2026-australian-open-womens-day-1-sunday-tips-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2026\/01\/2026-australian-open-womens-day-1-sunday-tips-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Australian Open | Women’s Day 1 (Sunday) Tips & Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Top seed, world number one and two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka leads the way on Day 1. Paolini and Svitolina are among other big names on the schedule, as is Venus Williams who made her first appearance here back in 1998!!!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Aryna Sabalenka<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Rakotomanga Rajaonah<\/div>\n
9:00pm* Sunday | Rod Laver Arena<\/div>\n
1st Set Score After 2 games \u2013 Sabalenka 2-0 ($1.72)<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Madison Keys denied Sabalenka a third consecutive Australian Open title but the world number 1\u2019s record at this tournament speaks for itself. She has compiled a 20-1 record in the last three years here and few would know that she won the women\u2019s doubles here alongside Elise Mertens in 2021. Sabalenka is the best player on hard courts by a clear margin and won\u2019t be having any troubles here. Rakotomanga was a straight sets loser in her only prior Grand Slam match at the French Open last year and almost have to question her being granted a wildcard. She is a lefty which will be an advantage long term but she managed to win only 4 games in her most recent match against Julia Grabher who is ranked outsider the top 50. Against the world\u2019s best, she will be under pressure from the opening point. It is a big line to cover (-8.5) so will be taking Sabalenka to get off to a quick start instead.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Aliaksandra Sasnovich<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Jasmine Paolini<\/div>\n
1:30pm* Sunday | Rod Laver Arena<\/div>\n
Sets Paolini 2-0 ($1.92)<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Paolini had nothing left in the tank at the WTA Tour Finals and the fast surface in Riyah did not suit her game. Pound for pound there is nobody better on the WTA Tour and she plays well above her size. Only a handful of women can hit through her and Sasnovich does not fall into that category. The Belarusian is past her best and although she came through the qualifiers, several of her performances along the way were disappointing. Beat Efremova who is still only 16, then converted only 2 of 12 break opportunities against Von Deichmann who was broken 5 times in her previous qualifying match against 16-year-old Renee Alame. If that is not concerning, she was bageled in the second set of her final qualifying match before recovering to beat Snigur who has never been ranked in the top 100. Paolini in straight sets.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Olga Danilovic<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Venus Williams<\/div>\n
8:40pm* Sunday | John Cain Arena<\/div>\n
Danilovic -5.5 ($1.88)<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Few people on earth love the game of tennis as much as Venus Williams and the 7-time Grand Slam champion just cannot let it go. She last played a single match here in 2021 and despite playing very limited tennis in the last year, the victories have been few and far between. Venus has record wins in only 1 of her last 6 matches and has registered just four wins in a period of 5+ years. We have seen her rely almost exclusively on her serve to win games and if Danilovic can make a high percentage of returns, she will dominate this contest.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n
\n
Maria Sakkari<\/div>\n
vs<\/div>\n
Leolia Jeanjean<\/div>\n
1:30pm Sunday | Margaret Court Arena<\/div>\n
Jeanjean WIN ($4.00)<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/use><\/svg><\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

We have consistently laid Sakkari at the majors and with great reason. The former two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist has lost in the opening round in 7 of her last 11 Grand Slam appearances \u2013 most of those as the betting favourite. A year ago, she was the 31st seed here but came up short in the opening round against Osorio Serrano. Jeanjean was a late bloomer and despite losing both of her matches at the United Cup, battles against Bencic and Paolini will have her well-prepared for this clash. On price and history, taking the Frenchwoman to score an upset is the right play.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n
\n
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<\/use><\/svg><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
All Tips<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
\n

Sasnovich v Paolini:<\/em> Sets Paolini 2-0 ($1.92)
\nSabalenka v Rakotomanga Rajaonah:<\/em> 1st Set Score After 2 games \u2013 Sabalenka 2-0 ($1.72)
\nSakkari v Jeanjean:<\/em> Jeanjean WIN ($4.00)
\nSawangkaew v Raducanu:<\/em> Over 19.5 games ($1.87)
\nSvitolina v Bucsa:<\/em> Over 20.5 games ($2.00)
\nDanilovic v Williams:<\/em> Danilovic -5.5 ($1.88)
\nGibson v Blinkova:<\/em> Blinkova WIN ($1.88)
\nPavlyuchenkova v Bai:<\/em> Pavlyuchenkova WIN ($1.55)
\nAlexandrova v Sonmez:<\/em> Alexandrova -4.5 ($1.82)
\nYastremska v Ruse:<\/em> Yastremska WIN ($1.77)
\nJacquemot v Kostyuk:<\/em> Under 18.5 games ($1.92)
\nLamens v Potapova:<\/em> Lamens +4.5 ($1.68)
\nPutintseva v Haddad Maia:<\/em> Putintseva WIN ($1.70)
\nBaptiste v Vondrousova:<\/em> Over 20.5 games ($1.92)<\/p>\n

\n Bet Now<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Top seed, world number one and two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka leads the way on Day 1. Paolini and Svitolina are among other big names on the schedule, as is Venus Williams who made her first appearance here back in 1998!!! Aryna Sabalenka vs Rakotomanga Rajaonah 9:00pm* Sunday | Rod Laver Arena 1st Set Score After 2 games \u2013 Sabalenka 2-0 ($1.72) Madison Keys denied Sabalenka a third consecutive Australian Open title but the world number 1\u2019s record at this tournament speaks for itself. She has compiled a 20-1 record in the last three years here and few would know that…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":348,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[435],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-25710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tennis","tag-tennis-tips"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":"","md_tip_date_end":"","md_market_url":"","tip_date":"18\/01\/2026","event_country":"New Zealand"},"yoast_head":"\n2026 Australian Open | Women's Day 1 (Sunday) Tips & Preview - TAB NZ Punters Lounge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tab.co.nz\/punters\/2026\/01\/2026-australian-open-womens-day-1-sunday-tips-preview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2026 Australian Open | Women's Day 1 (Sunday) Tips & Preview - TAB NZ Punters Lounge\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Top seed, world number one and two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka leads the way on Day 1. Paolini and Svitolina are among other big names on the schedule, as is Venus Williams who made her first appearance here back in 1998!!! Aryna Sabalenka vs Rakotomanga Rajaonah 9:00pm* Sunday | Rod Laver Arena 1st Set Score After 2 games \u2013 Sabalenka 2-0 ($1.72) Madison Keys denied Sabalenka a third consecutive Australian Open title but the world number 1\u2019s record at this tournament speaks for itself. 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