Expect plenty of entertaining action on day two at Melbourne Park. Several star names are set to make their bow at the 2024 Australian Open and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate including Andy Murray vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic, Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Dominic Thiem, Ben Shelton vs Roberto Bautista Agut, Daniil Medvedev vs Terence Atmane, and Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Zizou Bergs. But who will advance?
Australian Open Day 2 Predictions
Hubert Hurkacz vs Omar Jasika
Jim: Hubert Hurkacz good be primed for a big fortnight at the Australian Open. The quick conditions should suit his style of play and allow him to manage his forehand. He’s not good enough to win the title, but he have be more than enough to beat Omar Jasika.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
Yesh: Hurkacz is a potential threat to win the title here. This match won’t be fun, or close.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
Damian: One of the more straightforward matches of the first round? It’s a cool story for Jasika to qualify, but the set of opponents he played was also kind of ideal for him with no one who could really blow him off the court. The lefty lacks weaponry and it’s hard to see him having a fun time competing with the Hurkacz serve.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
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Denis Shapovalov vs Jakub Mensik
Jim: Denis Shapovalov needs a big season to remind the tour why he was once rated so highly. Unfortunately for the Canadian, inconsistency remains his Achilles’ heel. Even so, he can probably survive some wayward moments and still beat Jakub Mensik.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 4
Yesh: Shapovalov hasn’t looked great in a few years, but he’s better and more consistent in this matchup. I expect the Canadian to move on.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 4
Damian: Mensik qualifies for a Slam again and with how well he’s playing at the moment, a top 100 debut seems imminent right now. Of course he’s just 18 and weaker performances do happen, but if you take it serve and put it against Shapovalov’s return issues vs Ofner last week, it’s the youngster who should be the favorite here.
Prediction: Mensik in 4
Emil Ruusuvuori vs Patrick Kypson
Jim: Probably not a classic in the making. Patrick Kypson showed enough in his college career to suggest he can manage the transition into the professional ranks, but Emil Ruusuvuori is probably a challenge too far too soon.
Prediction: Ruusuvuori in 4
Yesh: Kypson has been on quite a rise in the past year, and this is a great chance for the young American to show that it continues. Don’t be surprised if he takes it and pulls off an upset here.
Prediction: Kypson in 5
Damian: Kypson is a bit of a USTA Wildcard Challenge specialist with two Slams he’s made like this already, but he’s a bit far off main tour quality for now. Ruusuvuori had an explosive start to the season and if he’s serious about threatening Medvedev in the second round, should be winning this one confidently.
Prediction: Ruusuvuori in 4
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Nicolas Jarry vs Flavio Cobolli
Jim: His suspension now far behind him, Nicolas Jarry might just be primed for an assault on the highest echelons of the men’s game this season. The Chilean has no real weaknesses, barring perhaps his movement, and plenty of power. This should be routine.
Prediction: Jarry in 3
Yesh: Jarry might be a threat to win a Major on clay someday. He probably won’t pull it off on a hard court, but he can definitely go deep.
Prediction: Jarry in 3
Damian: Qualifying in straightforward fashion is a good sign for Cobolli and Jarry’s less untouchable on hard courts than he is on clay. But the Italian has mostly been struggling in quicker conditions when someone is outserving him. That’s an issue in the Jarry matchup and he’ll have to try to stay extremely clean off the ground here.
Prediction: Jarry in 4
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