David Kane: Tommy Paul. Both Gauff and Fritz are ostensibly better set up for success, but I can’t help but pick Paul, a former semifinalist who won’t have to worry about Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the third round. The No. 12 seed could take advantage of a section anchored by a Casper Ruud, who has historically underperformed Down Under.
Stephanie Livaudais: Coco Gauff has been working on her serve, and the results are a boost in confidence in the form of a seven-match winning streak, dating back to her 2024 WTA Finals victory.
Ed McGrogan: Taylor Fritz has reached the quarterfinals or better at the last three hard-court majors, and now holds a coveted Top 4 seed. Going further than the semis, where Sinner likely awaits, may be too tall a task, but the unflappable No. 1 will still have to content with a high-speed game—and an opponent playing with nothing to lose.
Emma Storey: Coco Gauff: she is in the form of her life following her performances at the WTA Finals and United Cup, as well as having defeated both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek in recent months.
Steve Tignor: Coco Gauff. There are some good players in her quarter—Jessica Pegula, Karolina Muchova, Paula Badosa, Jelena Ostapenko—but she’s won a major, been to the semis in Melbourne, and is in strong form.
