Ioana Raluca Olaru v Polona Hercog

Polona Hercog is a good up-and-coming player out of Maribor, Slovenia. Still only a teen, she made her first WTA Tour final two weeks ago in Acapulco, taking the first set off Venus Williams before being defeated in three sets. With her good form of late she will be more than a match for her Romanian opponent who is 29 places below the Slovenian in the WTA rankings. Ioana Raluca Olaru doesn’t play well on hard court and has produced few upsets in her career, especially away from clay. Hercog will be too good for her opponent in this match and will be progressing into round two.

Pick: Polona Hercog

Roberta Vinci v Melanie Oudin

Despite a disappointing performance at her first Australian Open, Melanie Oudin has produced good performances in her tournaments since. A semi finalist in Paris followed up by a run to the quarter final in Memphis. A bright future is expected for Melanie Oudin and performing in front of her home nation here will give her an extra confidence boost. It worked for her when she made the quarter final of the US Open last year. She faces an experienced opponent in Roberta Vinci here. The Italian has got off to a slow start this season and Oudin has enough talent to see her through here.

Pick: Melanie Oudin