WITH Day 1 almost done and dusted, we take a look at our top 10 must-watch matches from Day 2 of the Australian Open tomorrow.

PICK OF THE DAY: [2] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) vs. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

Our must-watch match of Day 2 features the world number two, Karolina Pliskova. It might seem a bit strange to have the second seed in a predicted competitive match, but she has drawn the uncompromisingly and consistent hitter in Kristina Mladenovic. They have played four times on the singles court for a break-even result of two wins apiece, but have not played for more than two years, so the relevance of those results is not always accurate. Both come in with strong form, with the 41st-ranked Mladenovic defeating world number one Ash Barty in the Fed Cup to help her nation France to victory in the tournament. However Pliskova could not have come into the Australian Open on the back of any better form, winning the Brisbane International, with crucial victories over the likes of Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys on her way to victory. Expect Pliskova to get up, but this could be an epic three-set and no doubt the Czech number two would have been a little nervous when seeing her opponent drawn out.

CLOSE SECOND: Damir Dzumhur (BIH) vs. [15] Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

It would be fair to assume that former Australian Open winner, Stan Wawrinka would be one of the outside chances to win his second crown here at Melbourne Park. Unfortunately for the 34-year-old Swiss star, he faces Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur in the first round, which will be no easy feat. In fact, Dzumhur has a positive win-loss record against Wawrinka, including a victory last year. Ranked 92nd in the world, Dzumhur is one of those players that while he is not amongst the games’ elite, can worry some of the best in the world. At 27, he is seven years Wawrinka’s junior and the Swiss star – who last beat him back in 2018, will be hoping for much of the same rather than the two victories year’s either side of that triumph.

PODIUM: [6] Belinda Bencic (SUI) vs. Anna Schmiedlova (SVK)

The up-and-coming world number seven, Belinda Bencic had a disappointing end to the Adelaide International, bombing out in straight sets to the in-form Danielle Collins in the quarter finals. The 22-year-old Swiss star won a couple of titles last year and seems destined to make the next step up in 2020. But the first curveball for her was thrown at the Australian Open draw, when she was matched up against Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlova. Ranked 203rd in the world, Schmiedlova might not raise too many eyebrows against a world number seven, but the former top 30 player has had her fair share of injuries the last 12 months and used a protected ranking to qualify for the Australian Open. More worrying for Bencic is the last time these two played on Australian soil was at Hobart 12 months ago when Schmiedlova got up in three sets.

TOP 5: [19] Donna Vekic (CRO) vs. [WC] Maria Sharapova (RUS)

One player that no seed wants to come up against in a Grand Slam draw is a former Grand Slam winner. For Croatia’s Donna Vekic, this came true when she was drawn Maria Sharapova for tomorrow’s first round match. Sharapova has claimed 36 titles in her career to Vekic’s two, but both have been inconsistent at times over the journey. Vekic has a career high ranking of 19 which could be broken this next fortnight, while the former world number one Russian is now ranked 145th, earning a wildcard for the main draw. These two have only played once – in the second round of Roland Garros back in 2018, when the Russian, then seeded 28th, got up in straight sets. So far this year Vekic has played a lot of three-set matches before going down to Adelaide International finalist Dayana Yastremska in the quarter finals of that tournament. Sharapova’s form was no better, losing to Jennifer Brady in three sets, though the American went on to knock off Ash Barty the next round. Now the five-time Grand Slam winner will need to be at her best to topple the 19th seed and try and win her second Australian Open.

TOP 5: [Q] Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs. [20] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)

This is the kind of match that could go either way, with two top 10 quality players at either ends of their career. The red-hot favourite will be the Canadian young gun, 19-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime who is ranked 22nd in the world. He goes head-to-head with Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, currently ranked 256th in the world. The former top 10 player has won six titles in his career, and has superior experience to the inexperienced Canadian. However Gulbis has had to work his way through qualifying to book a spot in the first round, and this will be a tough match. Auger-Aliassime won the only match between the pair last year on grass at Stuttgart.

OTHERS TO KEEP IN MIND:

Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) vs. [31] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT)

Australia’s second highest ranked Australian will hope to turn an 0-2 win-loss record into a victory when she faces 31st seed Latvian, Anastasija Sevastova. The 26-year-old has not made it past the second round at Melbourne Park, with three consecutive first round exits in four years. She reached the Round of 16 at Adelaide before being bundled out by number two seed Simona Halep, the same fate as when she ran into world number two Karolina Pliskova the week earlier at Brisbane. Sevastova on the otherhand has won four titles including Jurmala last year. The Latvian will be hoping she can relieve her run a the top 15, by matching her Round of 16 exit at Melbourne Park last year.

[4] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. Frances Tiafoe (USA)

There is little doubt that the world number four will be a heavy favourite in this clash. Behind the ‘Big Three’ he is a good pick to be the next best choice for taking out the title. But we know that Melbourne Park can throw up some surprises, and counterpuncher Frances Tiafoe has the ability to potentially cause an upset. Tiafoe won against Medvedev back in juniors four years ago, but last year it was Medvedev who had his number in Washington. Tiafoe is not in the best form either, losing both his games this year, while Medvedev is 4-1. The weight of expectations will play an interesting role for the Russian in this game, and it will be most interesting to see how he handles it.

[24] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) vs. Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)

The controversial Australian is always a match to watch regardless of his opponent because you just know something – good or bad – is going to happen. The 24-year-old world number 26 grabbed the all-important 24th seeding to avoid a top eight player in the first three rounds and now has a flight path to Rafael Nadal if he makes it. First he has to get past the 53rd ranked Sonego, who is no slouch himself. The Italian has faced the Australian seed once – at the ATP Masters in Cincinnati where Kyrgios won 7-5 6-4. The Australian should get through this unscathed, but expect some brilliant points along the way.

Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) vs. [11] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)

One of the most exciting players on the WTA Tour, 11th seed Aryna Sabalenka is a dark horse to win the title if she can string all her potential together across the next two weeks. She made a semi-final at Adelaide, which was a step better than a Round of 16 exit at Shenzhen. Last year she claimed a career-high three titles, making it five overall for the 21-year-old. She made the third round last year in her second effort at Melbourne Park and has not made it past a fourth round in a Grand Slam. Her Spanish opponent on the otherhand was best remembered for her 2009 run through to an Australian Open qualifying final as a 20-year-old. While her highly touted career did not reached the levels first thought, she is still a consistent performer who will be no easy-beat for the top 10 hopeful. Take into the fact Suarez Navarro is retiring at year’s-end and there will be some extra motivation in it for the veteran.

Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Vasek Pospisil (CAN)

The final match worth mentioning is the battle between two unseeded players in Ivo Karlovic and Vasek Pospisil. The Canadian protected his ranking to grab a main draw spot and avoid going through qualifying, and he hopes to extend the 4-1 win-loss record he has against the 211cm Croatian. Now aged 40, Karlovic is still kicking around and throwing down more than 13,500 aces during his career. He will hope to continue that form against Pospisil who while 29-years-old is practically a spring chicken compared to his opponent. The Canadian impressed at the Davis Cup back in November, and will be favourite in this clash, winning the past four encounters against the Croatian, with the most recent coming at Miami on hardcourt in 2018, unsurprisingly in two tiebreakers.