Leylah Annie Fernandez and Bethanie Mattek-Sands face the team of Beatriz Haddad Maia and Zhang Shuai in the first round of the women’s doubles event at the 2023 Australian Open.
Zhang Shuai and Beatriz Haddad Maia
The seventh-seeded duo did not have a great start to the season. They competed in the Adelaide International 2. However, they could not get past the first round.
Haddad Maia and Shuai lost to the team of Taylor Townsend and Luisa Stefani in three sets 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 10-2. The Chinese veteran is a two-time Grand Slam champion in doubles and her experience will be crucial in the tournament. Haddad Maia also played some great doubles tennis last year alongside Anna Danilina and the duo also made the cut for the WTA Finals.
Leylah Annie Fernandez and Bethanie Mattek-Sands
The 37-year-old Bethanie Mattek-Sands and the 20-year-old Leylah Annie Fernandez come into the tournament on the back of a successful campaign at the ASB Classic.
The American-Canadian duo went on to win the ASB Classic in Auckland on the back of some exceptional performances. In the finals, they defeated the third-seeded team of Aldila Sutjiadi and Miyu Kato 6-1, 5-7, 10-4. They will carry a lot of confidence along with them as they play their first-round match against Haddad Maia and Shuai. However, they will be wary of the experience that their two opponents possess.
Prediction: Leylah Annie Fernandez and Bethanie Mattek-Sands to win in three sets.
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