Three to See, Day 3: Wozniacki vs. Yastremska; Gauff; Federer
A sizzling Dayana Yastremska hopes to put an end to Caroline Woznacki's storied career tonight in Melbourne.
Before each day's play at the 2020 Australian Open, we'll preview three must-see matches.
One player is on her way in, the other on her way out. Wozniacki has announced that the Australian Open, the site of her only major title, will be her last tournament. And considering that she’s playing Yastremska, a 19-year-old who beat her in their only previous meeting, and who has started out 2020 with a run to the final in Adelaide, this could be Wozniacki’s last match. To stay alive for another round, the veteran will have to turn back the clock, and run everything down, because Yastremska can pummel winners from just about anywhere. She’s going places this season.
Winner: Yastremska
This presents an interesting test for both of these players. We’ve seen Gauff beat an aging champion in Venus Williams, but how will she fare against a player 10 years younger than Venus who has had fairly high-level success at various points in her career? For Cirstea, a talented but sometimes fragile 29-year-old who has been ranked as high as No. 21, how will she handle the no-win-situation of facing a 15-year-old? I’m guessing there will be no shortage of changes in momentum, and that this one will go three.
Winner: Gauff
Federer gets the late shift, following fellow 20-plus-Slammer Serena Williams into Rod Laver Arena to close out the night session. Will his entrance be the height of the excitement for the evening, or can Krajinovic create some more by making this a match? Federer is 3-0 in their head to head, but the Serb, currently ranked No. 41, did give him a serious run in Basel in 2018 before falling 6-4 in the third. Krajinovic also reached a final last fall in Stockholm, and has never quite made the most of his compact talents. Unfortunately, Laver Arena against Federer is a tough place to breakthrough.
Winner: Federer
