Polona Hercog defeated Rebecca Peterson 6–3, 6–3 in the first round of the 2020 Australian Open on hard court, delivering an upset victory against the pre-match favourite. Peterson entered as odds-on at 1.63 to Hercog's 2.4, yet the Slovenian controlled both sets with consistent tennis to advance comfortably. The dominant scoreline suggested Hercog's superior execution and court management during the encounter. The result marked a significant opening statement for Hercog in Melbourne, positioning her favourably for the second round.