Stefanos Tsitsipas says two-week Masters 1000s are 'a drag'—but Stan Wawrinka remembers when he said otherwise

Let’s zig when they zag. Look for Pliskova to blast her way to her elusive first major title after defeating a red-hot Alison Riske, Osaka, and Madison Keys.

ED MCGROGAN: Belinda Bencic

There were two repeat Grand Slam champions in 2019, but we're still in a stretch of time where players are breaking through with a maiden major. I could see Bencic, who reached the semis at the US Open, being the next first-time winner. The bottom half of the draw is far less imposing than the top, but she'll still have to beat quality players. Plus, isn't Switzerland due for a big title?

ASHLEY NDEBELE: Karolina Pliskova

The No. 2 seed has a difficult opener against Kristina Mladenovic, but she’s proved that she can blow any player off the court with her aggressive brand of tennis.

NINA PANTIC: Serena Williams

Auckland was a great start to Serena’s season, but her 24th major is long overdue. Achieving the record-tying feat on an Australian court would be quite appropriate.

JORDAAN SANFORD: Naomi Osaka

The No. 3 seed finished last season strong, with wins in Osaka and Beijing. Last week in Brisbane, she defeated Sofia Kenin and Kiki Bertens. She looks to be at the top of her game, and without the No. 1 beside her name, she should feel less pressure, which could make all the difference.

STEVE TIGNOR: Naomi Osaka

She’s in the same quarter as Serena, but Osaka is the defending champion, and she spent the last few months of 2019 building her game back to where it was a year ago.

JOEL DRUCKER: Serena Williams

Abundant in confidence, Serena is aided by winning her first tournament title since becoming a mother. Now’s the time she, at last, wins Slam No. 24.

2020 Australian Open Expert Picks: Women's champion, dark horse, bust

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MATT FITZGERALD: Anett Kontaveit

She’s been to the round of 16 here before, and is due to get back to that juncture, or further, on the Grand Slam stage.

STEVE FLINK: Amanda Anisimova

The No. 21 seed began her breakout 2019 with a fourth-round run in Melbourne, and followed it up with a semifinal showing at Roland Garros. She's a big match player.

CALE HAMMOND: Ekaterina Alexandrova

Alexandrova has won the last two tournaments she’s played, in Limoges and Shenzhen. Look for the fast-rising 25th seed to upset Kvitova in the third round.

ED MCGROGAN: Karolina Muchova

For the reasons I mentioned above, I'm going with a player in the bottom half. Muchova ended 2019 with a series of deep runs, but she'll remain well under the radar until the later rounds. When you're playing solid tennis, that's a desirable position to be in.

ASHLEY NDEBELE: Danielle Collins

A semifinalist here last year, the former collegiate star has already made some noise Down Under by handily upsetting Elina Svitolina in Brisbane, and Sofia Kenin and Bencic in Adelaide.

NINA PANTIC: Elena Rybakina

The 20-year-old has reached the quarterfinals or better in her last five events, including the Shenzhen final. She was playing W25K’s this time last year, but is now inside the Top 30.

JORDAAN SANFORD: Danielle Collins**

Last week in Brisbane, Collins dominated world No. 5 Svitolina and Yulia Putintseva. This week she eased past Kenin and Bencic. With this kind of momentum building, she has the potential to defeat anyone in her way.

STEVE TIGNOR: Dayana Yastremska

This 19-year-old, who can hit with anyone, has won a few titles; a deep run at a Grand Slam would seem to be next on her agenda, and Melbourne Park would seem to have the right surface for her.

JOEL DRUCKER: Garbine Muguruza

She shown the goods before, with two Grand Slam title runs. Now, she's back working with Conchita Martinez—and hopefully in the right place to vault back up the ranks.

2020 Australian Open Expert Picks: Women's champion, dark horse, bust

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MATT FITZGERALD: Simona Halep

Opening with the in-form Jennifer Brady and the likes of Hsieh Su-Wei, Collins and Putintseva floating as potential third-rounders don’t add up to a promising result.

STEVE FLINK: Elina Svitolina

Her draw does not look that difficult, but I believe the No. 5 seed will lose early.

CALE HAMMOND: Kiki Bertens

The newlywed's game is almost as sweet as her personality, but she withdrew from Adelaide due to an Achilles injury, and that’s not a good sign.

ED MCGROGAN: Madison Keys

The American's game used to entice me with its sky-high potential. But after so many Grand Slams shortcomings, all I think about are the ways it can go awry. If she rolls through the first week, this pick could be a bust, but Daria Kasatkina isn't an easy opening opponent, and potential third-round adversary Maria Sakkari will have massive support in Melbourne.

ASHLEY NDEBELE: Elina Svitolina

She comes into the event with little confidence after a dismal 6-1, 6-1 loss to Collins in Brisbane.

NINA PANTIC: Simona Halep

Halep is 1-1 so far in 2020, and opens against a red-hot Brady, who just recorded upsets of Ashleigh Barty and Maria Sharapova in Brisbane.

JORDAAN SANFORD: Ashleigh Barty

The No. 1 seed didn’t have a great warm-up tournament, losing her opening round in Brisbane. Hard courts could actually be this widely skilled player's worst surface.

STEVE TIGNOR: Ash Barty

Barty is the top seed, and possibly the world’s best player, and she has a decent draw. But can Australia’s finest live up to the considerable expectations that will surround her in Melbourne?

JOEL DRUCKER: Kiki Bertens

Solid player and admirable ascent, but a career record of 4-7 at the Australian Open. I can see her being tripped up by a lower-ranked contender.

2020 Australian Open Expert Picks: Women's champion, dark horse, bust

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