First-round competitors on the tennis season’s first Grand Slam continues on Tuesday, highlighted by a showdown between Andrey Rublev and Joao Fonseca. Alex De Minaur can also be amongst these taking the courtroom.
Listed below are my picks for Day 3 of the Australian Open.
(9) Andrey Rublev vs. (Q) Joao FonsecaThis is arguably the marquee matchup of the entire first spherical at Melbourne Park. It’s the No. 9 participant on the planet in Rublev in opposition to an opponent who is likely to be essentially the most harmful unseeded floater within the draw. Fonseca is coming off a title on the NextGen ATP Finals and opened this season with a Challenger title in Canberra. Is the 18-year-old Brazilian on the best way to being a world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion? The hype definitely thinks so.
No matter what the distant future holds, Fonseca might be line for quick success on Tuesday. Not solely is he taking part in nice, however he additionally has the advantage of Rublev’s lackluster kind. The Russian is 1-6 in his final seven matches relationship again to this previous fall. All the stress is on Rublev, and it’s a scenario–and an opponent–he may not have the ability to deal with.
Decide: Fonseca in 5
Botic van de Zandschulp vs. (8) Alex de MinaurDe Minaur is getting night-session therapy in Rod Laver Area. And why not? He’s the host nation’s finest hope to make a deep run at this Aussie Open, particularly with Nick Kyrgios already out of the occasion and Thanasi Kokkinakis struggling bodily. Park. De Minaur is coming off the very best yr of his profession during which he went 47-21 document and booked a visit to the Nitto ATP Finals.
Up first for the Demon is Van de Zandschulp. They beforehand confronted one another on the Davis Cup Finals in 2022, when the Aussie prevailed 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Van de Zandschulp famously upset Carlos Alcaraz on the U.S. Open in 2024, nevertheless it’s unlikely that he has one other upset up his sleeve. Good outcomes for the Dutchman are usually few and much between.
Decide: De Minaur in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
