It promises to be an exciting opening day of WTA Adelaide action, with seven matches scheduled. American star Emma Navarro and last year’s Australian Open semifinalist, Paula Badosa, are among those featured in this article. We here at LWOT predict the other contests, including Victoria Mboko vs Beatriz Haddad Maia, separately.

WTA Adelaide Day 1 Predictions
Anna Kalinskaya vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse

Head-to-head: Ruse 1-0 Kalinskaya

Ruse has already played five matches this season, four of them qualifying victories. The other was a tight loss against last year’s Charleston Open runner-up, Sofia Kenin. Kalinskaya began 2026 with a triumph over Tereza Valentova before losing a competitive battle against consistent Top 10 player Jessica Pegula. Although Ruse has shown promising signs, Kalinskaya is a much better hard-court player. The 2024 Australian Open quarterfinalst’s superior backhand will likely be especially important.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 2

Paula Badosa vs Marie Bouzkova

Head-to-head: Badosa 5-0 Bouzkova

These two met a few days ago at the Brisbane International, with Badosa recovering from losing the first set to win. Their previous match before that (excluding one in Strasbourg, where Bouzkova retired in the opening set due to an injury) in the 2024 Citi DC Open final was also a tight affair. Although that might give the Czech hope, it is challenging to look past a 5-0 head-to-head record. Badosa also has a more formidable and powerful game.
Prediction: Badosa in 3

Maria Sakkari vs Daria Kasatkina

Head-to-head: Kasatkina 4-1 Sakkari

Sakkari has not faced Kasatkina since 2022, which makes the head-to-head less concerning than it looks. Although she finished with singles and doubles defeats at the United Cup, matches that involved French Open champion Coco Gauff, her overall level was quite encouraging. Kasatkina’s first contest since ending 2025 early ended in defeat to Anastasia Potapova. Despite the head-to-head record, Sakkari’s greater match practice and Kasatkina’s underwhelming showing against Potapova make Sakkari a slightly more likely winner.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3

Emma Navarro vs Emerson Jones

Head-to-head: First meeting

Navarro was poor in her ASB Classic defeat to Francesca Jones. 17-year-old home favorite Emerson Jones secured a victory in Brisbane over former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria before falling to Liudmila Samsonova. Although the Australian is highly talented, Navarro possesses a more complete game. The crowd support Jones will receive, and her bright future, do not change the fact that this match is on the Americans’ racquet. I would be surprised if she performs so badly again.
Prediction: Navarro in 2

Main Photo Credit: Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports