Caty McNally vs Himeno Sakatsume Preview & Prediction | 2026 Australian Open | First Round
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Caty McNally faces Himeno Sakatsume in the first-round of the Australian Open.
Start date/time:
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Surface: Outdoor hard
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & Tennis Channel
Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Caty McNally vs Himeno Sakatsume ticket information
Caty McNally vs Himeno Sakatsume prediction
Caty McNally enters Melbourne with some decent momentum after a solid buildup to the season. Her time in Auckland was short-lived as she lost in the first-round to Wang Xinyu. However, she notched up wins over Julia Grabher and Kaja Juvan in Hobart before falling to Solana Sierra in three sets. She has strong depth to her shots from either wing and can pressurise her opponent in different ways.
Her first-round opponent is Himeno Sakatsume. She won multiple matches in qualifying to secure her spot, which included a straight sets win over Mai Hontama. She also competed in a WTA 125 event in Canberra a week earlier, making the semi-finals. Sakatsume has plenty of wins under her belt already in 2026.
McNally will look to dictate play with her power and force Sakatsume into some awkward positions on the court. The American’s higher ranking and experience gives her the edge, but Sakatsume cannot be counted out entirely here.
Caty McNally vs Himeno Sakatsume tip: Caty McNally to win
