The Australian Open kicks off with Andy Murray’s (potential) final career match and former slam finalists Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic in action. Our panelists break it all down.
Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Steen Kirby: For all the emotions and support around Murray’s retirement, Bautista Agut just beat the world #1 Novak Djokovic and won the Doha 250 in prep for this tournament. The Spaniard is playing well and a rusty, and likely distracted Murray is not likely to beat him. Murray will fight hard but RBA should find a way to win. Bautista Agut in 4
Yesh Ginsburg: This could be the final competitive match of Andy Murray’s career. Let that sink in. Judging by his current form he shouldn’t be able to compete. But Murray made a career out of competing when he shouldn’t. I don’t think he’ll win, but it would be heartless to bet against him. Murray in 3
Marin Cilic vs Bernard Tomic
Steen: Last year’s finalist Cilic took a long break after helping his country win the Davis Cup. Tomic won a title on the Asian swing last year and he’s unpredictable, but Cilic has to be the favorite here. Cilic in 4
Eric Han: Both players have only lost once in the first round in their careers here at Melbourne. But the Australian, Bernard Tomic, but has an extremely tough opponent in front of him. Last year’s finalist, Marin Cilic, should have a straightforward win here and I do not see him falling at the first hurdle this year. Cilic in 3
Yesh: What kind of form is Bernard Tomic in right now? He can always play his best tennis out of absolutely nowhere, and in Australia against a former Slam champion is exactly the type of place that he’ll randomly play well. Tomic in 5
Tennys Sandgren vs Yoshihito Nishioka
Steen: Nishioka is playing well and Sandgren should be exhausted after winning in Auckland. Sandgren probably won’t repeat his tremendous run last season, with Nishioka’s ball striking upsetting him in round 1. Nishioka in 5
Eric: Sandgren is in good form having just won his first ATP career title in Auckland last week, without dropping a set. I do expect him to carry this momentum and will have the confidence to beat the young Japanese. Sandgren in 4
Yesh: Tennys Sandgren just won his first career title, achieved a career high ranking, and always seems to play his best down under. Nishioka doesn’t stand a chance. Sandgren in 3
John Isner vs Reilly Opelka
Steen: Isner’s form isn’t great but Opelka has the same play style with less tiebreak experience. This will be a battle, with Isner’s tiebreak skill likely pushing him through. Isner in 5
Eric: Isner seems to struggle against opponents who are big servers like himself. Opelka who is taller than Isner, has a booming serve and took a set off Isner in their 2016 meeting. This will be a match with not much rallies and will be decided on who can protect their serve better. Isner also lost in the first round last week in Auckland to Fritz, so will his confidence will not be high, whereas Opelka got through as a qualifier in Sydney and reached the round of 16. I can sense an upset. Opelka in 5
Yesh: Expect five tiebreaks in this one. I’m serious. Neither player will be able to break serve. The Australian Open will be happy with their rules change after this one. Isner in 5
Tomas Berdych vs Kyle Edmund
Steen: Edmund lost his only warm up singles match and Berdych played well in Doha. The veteran has at least one big slam run left in him and it could start here with a win against the seeded but out of form British #1. Berdych in 4
Eric: This will be an interesting match as Edmund is considered to have his career-best season last season and is still riding on a high, whereas Berdych was struggling nearly all of 2018, and was considered-( ok word choice?) by many to be heading towards the twilight of his long career, but started his 2019 campaign by reaching the final in Doha. Berdych is carrying the more positive momentum right now and has more experience than Edmund in Grand Slams, so I will Berdych to win. Edmund who reached the semifinals last year here at Melbourne will have a lot of points to defend, and if he loses in the first round, his ranking will plummet. Berdych in 3
Yesh: This should be a sneakily good match. Edmund is the better player at this point in these guys’ respective careers, but he’s been iffy recently. Berdych, meanwhile, is still searching for the form that took him to Grand Slam finals close to a decade ago. Edmund in 4
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