Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

ATP Great Ocean Road Open Day 3 Predictions Including Reilly Opelka vs Sergiy Stakhovsky

Reilly Opelka preparing for the 2020 Cincinnati Masters

These have been two very tennis-heavy days in Melbourne so far and we’ve got no intention of slowing down. With 16 second-round matches at the ATP Great Ocean Road Open on Wednesday, every viewer will have something that is just their cup of tea. In one of the more fascinating matches of the day, the big-serving Reilly Opelka takes on veteran all-court player Sergiy Stakhovsky. Who do you think will prevail?

We’re also predicting Wednesday’s other 12 matches, spread out among three other articles. One article features David Goffin vs Carlos Alcaraz, the second headlines Kevin Anderson vs Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, and the final features Alexander Bublik vs Christopher O’Connell.

ATP Great Ocean Road Open Day 3 Predictions

Aleksandar Vukic vs Jannik Sinner

Head-to-head: First meeting

Jannik Sinner showed up in the Adelaide exhibition but wasn’t particularly convincing in the sets he lost to Filip Krajinovic and Novak Djokovic. Aleksandar Vukic made great improvements last year and could keep it close if his big serve finds its spots. But with the level of maturity that Sinner showed recently and his versatility and ability to adjust, the youngster should be able to find a way to advance.
Prediction: Sinner in 2

Embed from Getty Images

Botic van de Zandschulp vs Kamil Majchrzak

Head-to-head: First meeting

Kamil Majchrzak impressed in his first-round win over Laslo Djere, while Botic van de Zandschulp had a slightly easier job against Tristan Schoolkate. The Dutchman is most dangerous in slick indoor conditions, whereas Majchrzak should find the courts in Melbourne more to his liking. We kind of know he does after taking Kei Nishikori to five sets here in an excellent display two years ago. Advantage Majchrzak, but this might get really nervy, especially if the players focus too much on the opportunity before them rather than the opponent.
Prediction: Majchrzak in 3

[pickup_prop id=”4645″]

Max Purcell vs Karen Khachanov

Head-to-head: First meeting

Karen Khachanov didn’t finish his 2020 campaign on a high note and his level of play is known to fluctuate wildly. Max Purcell scored a great win over Norbert Gombos in the opening round but the Australian tried himself in a lot of tour-level qualifying draws late last year and came up short every time. Each of these performances showed he is still far from the level required to beat or even compete against players like Khachanov. The Russian would have to be really off his game to let Purcell into the match here.
Prediction: Khachanov in 2

Embed from Getty Images

Reilly Opelka vs Sergiy Stakhovsky

Head-to-head: Opelka 1-0

It’s been a great month for Sergiy Stakhovsky. The Ukrainian is in the twilight of his career but was able to qualify for the Australian Open and show a couple of younger players he always has a few tricks up his sleeve. Beating Reilly Opelka will be a much bigger challenge though. The American’s serve can obviously be just devastating and it would be surprising to see Stakhovsky’s backhand return survive that onslaught.
Prediction: Opelka in 2

Main Photo from Getty.

Share:

More Posts

Send Us A Message