Zoe Hives will lack heavily in experience yet again at the Australian Open when she takes on the highly-credentialed Caroline Garcia in the second round on Wednesday.
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Hives has been booked to take on Garcia on 1573 Arena, the fourth biggest of the courts at Melbourne Park.
The Kingston local will still be riding on the excitement of her first round demolition job of American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who she crushed 6-1 6-2.
That marked a memorable Australian Open singles debut, which came about after gaining a wildcard entry into the grand slam event.
Hives defied Mattek-Sands’ experience advantage and will be out to do so again on Wednesday when she comes up against Garcia, who has been a regular grand slam player in recent years and reached the fourth rounds of both the Australian and French opens in 2018.
Garcia, who beat Jessika Ponchet 6-2 6-3 on Monday, has won close to $10 million US on tour and picked up the French Open women’s doubles crown in 2016.
At present, the 25-year-old Garcia has a singles ranking of 19 in the world, far better than Hives’ mark of 211.
The battle between Hives and Garcia is set to begin at 11am as the first match on 1573 Arena for the day.
Wednesday’s winner will take on the victor of the game between Danielle Collins and Sachia Vickery.
While her immediate focus is on singles, Hives will partner Alison Bai in the women’s doubles. The pair will take on Maryna Zanevska and Daria Kasatkina, with the game likely to be played Thursday.
