Rising star Victoria Mboko’s preparations for the Australian Open will continue on Day 1 at the WTA 250 in Adelaide. She faces an interesting opening challenge against the gritty and determined Beatriz Haddad Maia. Clara Tauson and Ekaterina Alexandrova’s first-round matches are also predicted here. We at LWOT cover the other WTA Adelaide openers, including Emma Navarro vs Emerson Jones, in a separate article.

WTA Adelaide Day 1 Predictions
Clara Tauson vs Ajla Tomljanovic

Head-to-head: Tomljanovic 3-2 Tauson

Tauson and Tomljanovic had two very close battles last year, with each winning one. The Dane’s chances will be slim if she performs at the same level as last week against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in Brisbane. Although Sasnovich deserves credit for her performance, Tauson was poor from start to finish. Tomljanovic’s level in a victory against Elsa Jacquemot and a narrow defeat against Karolina Muchova was much better.

The experienced Australian’s game is quite well-suited to disrupting Tauson. If her formidable backhand is flowing, Tauson could struggle, especially if she starts slowly after last week’s performance. Tomljanovic is narrowly favored to be more consistent and beat her higher-ranked opponent.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3

Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Jaqueline Cristian

Head-to-head: Alexandrova 1-0 Cristian

After a slightly lackluster performance against Marie Bouzkova in Brisbane, Cristian’s comprehensive qualifying triumph against Anastasia Potapova in Adelaide was encouraging. Alexandrova made an okay start to her season with a win and a loss to Sofia Kenin and Karolina Muchova.

The pair’s sole meeting in Tokyo a few months ago was one-sided, with Alexandrova only dropping three games. Conditions for this match will not be identical, but the medium-fast hard court shares similarities with their last meeting. In those conditions, Alexandrova is a pretty overwhelming favorite against an opponent who plays best on slower courts.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2

Victoria Mboko vs Beatriz Haddad Maia

Head-to-head: First meeting

Mboko had a mixed United Cup campaign for Team Canada. There were flashes of the teenager’s outstanding talent, but she was also inconsistent. This will be Haddad Maia’s first match since ending her 2025 season early because of mental fatigue. The Brazilian had a very challenging year before that decision, and it will be fascinating to observe whether that move has a positive effect.

A player like Haddad Maia, who focuses on putting as many balls into court as possible, has the potential to challenge Mboko, since the young star sometimes does not find the right balance between attack and defense. However, the uncertainty surrounding Haddad Maia’s level in her first match back means Mboko is backed.
Prediction: Mboko in 2

Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images