Nick Kyrgios will try to bring the heat vs Liam Broady in their first round Australian Open matchup. Casper Ruud also looks for a winning start vs Challenger Tour standout Alex Molcan. Our panelists have predictions for every first round match including Alex de Minaur and Daniil Medvedev’s matches.
Casper Rudd vs Alex Molcan
Anish Joshi: Casper Ruud had a stellar 2021 season, in which he bagged five titles, and rose to as high as world number 8. The cherry on top was his first hard court title of his career, at the San Diego ATP. Ruud is no longer just a clay courter, and his recent performances have started giving justice to his ranking. Alex Molcan is perhaps the only player who had a better 2021 season, purely on the basis of total wins in the year. Molcan bagged an astonishing 66 wins last season. Though, here’s the catch- most of the wins came from the clay challengers. Ruud is playing very well to be stopped in the first round. Ruud in 3
Damian Kust: Casper Ruud has probably improved on hard courts too much for his upset to happen. Alex Molcan can be dangerous though as he played very well in Melbourne two weeks ago. The Norwegian’s forehand will be the key to win, as usual. Ruud in 4
Philipp Kohlschreiber vs Marco Cecchinato
Anish: Philipp Kohlschreiber didn’t exactly have a very good season last year, as he played a few tournaments, finishing with a 15-15 win-loss record. However, the 38 year old veteran has some great results here over the course of his career. The only issue will be whether he can carry on for five sets against Cecchinato. Cecchinato hasn’t won even one singles main draw match in his career, and it might stay that way till next year. Kohlschreiber in 4
Damian: Marco Cecchinato is still yet to win a match in a Grand Slam outside the French Open, despite some very lucky draws. This is another one but even nearing the end of his career, Philipp Kohlschreiber has a great chance at winning here. Kohlschreiber in 4
Emilio Gomez vs Marin Cilic
Anish: Cilic gave a good start to his 2022 season, making consecutive semi final appearances at the back to back ATP 250 events at Adelaide. Last year in the late season, Cilic made two consecutive hard court finals, and won a title. Emilio Gomez dropped just one set in the qualifying rounds, though the level of competition there was nowhere close to what he will face in the first round. The 2018 finalist will face little difficulty in advancing to the next round. Cilic in 3
Damian: Should be straightforward for Marin Cilic. Emilio Gomez is among the weakest qualifiers and doesn’t have the attacking potential to really throw the Croat off his game, should grant him enough time to tune in his groundstrokes. Cilic in 3
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Nick Kyrgios vs Liam Broady
Anish: Kyrgios played just 15 singles matches in the 2021 season, and had thoughts of retirement midway. His last five matches have been losses, and the last time he won two consecutive matches was at Wimbledon. However, Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open, with the full support of the highly vocal home crowd, becomes a different beast. Liam Broady had a tough time in the qualifying rounds, but he still managed to come through. Even if Kyrgios is anywhere near his peak level, we know the winner. But again, no one knows with the mercurial Aussie. Kyrgios in 3
Damian: Good opportunity for both, Nick Kyrgios has been withdrawing a lot but can always find some goods on the big stage. Liam Broady is a fairly unpleasant matchup though and someone who will required the Australian to remain very solid. Is he ready to be? Who knows. Broady in 5
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