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Coach’s Corner: Five Ladies’ Matches to Watch in Australian Open Round 2

Phil Naessens04 mins
Australian Open ladies’ second round top half

The top half of the ladies‘ singles draw is complete, and the Australian Open ladies’ second round top half of the draw is ready to commence.

These five matchups stand out for how styles, momentum, and pressure intersect as the early nerves fade and real patterns begin to emerge.

The second round starts to tell us who can actually handle pressure, court speed, and the expectations.

These five ladies’ matchups stand out not because of rankings or hype, but because of how styles collide and how players respond when the points begin to matter.

From proven contenders to emerging challengers, each of these matches offers insight into where the draw may start to bend.

Coach’s Corner: Five Ladies’ Second-Round Matches to Watch (Top Half)

Jessica Pegula vs. McCartney Kessler

This is about control versus momentum. Jessica Pegula’s discipline and return game against a confident shot-maker with nothing to lose in McCartney Kessler.

Pegula is 1–0 lifetime against her Australian Open doubles partner.

I’m more interested in how Pegula wins this match. Does she break away early and step on the gas, or does the forehand start misfiring, giving Kessler a window to believe?

If Pegula stays clean and assertive, this stays on her terms. If not, momentum creeps in.

Maria Sakkari vs Mirra Andreeva


Thanks to injuries, Maria Sakkari is coming off a difficult couple of seasons.

She has opened 2025 with a bang, and I’m looking forward to watching the Greek No. 1 face teen sensation Mirra Andreeva for the first time.

Andreeva needed three sets to get past a pesky Donna Vekic, converting 5 of 11 break-point chances along the way.

Sakkari’s one-two serve and forehand combination presents a different kind of pressure, and this match will show how Andreeva handles sustained physicality and pace. 

Karolina Muchova vs Alycia Parks

Alycia Parks may be a long shot against Karolina Muchova, but she has already beaten the Czech once at a Grand Slam, at the 2025 French Open, and is coming off a tough upset win in a hostile environment against Alexandra Eala.

Muchova reached the semifinals here in 2021, but she has not advanced past the second round in her last three appearances.

I am interested to see how Muchova handles Parks’s heater early, and more importantly, how she responds if Parks manages to take a set.

Victoria Mboko vs Caty McNally

Victoria Mboko has won 14 of her last 17 matches on hard courts.

She rolled past highly touted teenager Emerson Jones in straight sets and now faces Caty McNally for the second time.

McNally won their 2024 meeting in three sets, but both players are in very different places now.

Mboko is building momentum and belief, while McNally continues to search for consistency after injury interruptions. 

I’m curious to see whether the pesky American can extend rallies, disrupt rhythm, and make this a real test rather than a straight-line result.

Anastasia Potapova vs Emma Raducanu

While neither Anastasia Potapova nor Emma Raducanu has ever advanced past the second round here, that is exactly what makes this a terrific match to watch.

I am more curious about Raducanu at this stage. How many medical timeouts does she call, and when do they come? 

Potapova can hit through the court from both wings, and it will be interesting to see whether the possibility of facing Aryna Sabalenka in the third round sharpens her focus or becomes a distraction.

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