The first Grand Slam tournament of the year kicks off in Melbourne. It’s been a strange path to get here, but we’re finally here. Day 1 of the Australian Open will begin Monday morning, Melbourne time, and we’re here to predict every match for you. With 32 men’s matches, that means we’re splitting up the matches between eight articles. Make sure you don’t miss our other predictions as well, featuring Milos Raonic vs Federico Coria, Alexander Zverev vs Marcos Giron, Denis Shapovalov vs Jannik Sinner, Nick Kyrgios vs Frederico Ferreira Silva, Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Sousa, Grigor Dimitrov vs Marin Cilic, and Dominic Thiem vs Mikhail Kukushkin.
Predicting this set of matches are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), Steen Kirby, and Damian Kust.
Australian Open Day 1 Predictions
Yoshihito Nishioka vs Pedro Martinez
Steen:
Neither has started the season well but Nishioka will be more comfortable on hard courts than Martinez.
Prediction: Nishioka in 3
Damian:
Pedro Martinez had a great run at the Australian Open last year, qualifying and giving Daniil Medvedev a decent match. A year later we’re still yet to see if he’ll recapture some of the magic that saw him have the best season of his career in 2020. Nishioka didn’t perform all that well at the ATP Cup but he’s definitely much more of a sure thing at the moment.
Prediction: Nishioka in 4
Yesh:
Martinez might have a chance to be a future name to look out for. He has real potential. Unfortunately for him, it’s all on clay. Nishioka is solid all over the court on this surface, and that should get him a win.
Prediction: Nishioka in 4
Damir Dzumhur vs James Duckworth
Steen:
Duckworth has the H2H win and he’s playing at home, which always brings extra out of him. Though Dzumhur is the more accomplished player, home cooking should give Duckworth the edge to pull an upset.
Prediction: Duckworth in 5
Damian:
It could go both ways but Damir Dzumhur’s fitness is under a question mark after a withdrawal this week. James Duckworth got a great warm-up event under his belt and should be able to use this advantage to find his way to a victory here.
Prediction: Duckworth in 4
Yesh:
Dzumhur is probably the better player in this matchup. He’s definitely had the better career of these two. However, Duckworth has more potential, and he always comes close to playing his best Down Under. Give me the Aussie in an upset.
Prediction: Duckworth in 4
Aslan Karatsev vs Gianluca Mager
Steen:
Mager has a H2S win but Karatsev finished the year strong and eased through qualifying. He should be set to get his first ever Grand Slam main draw win, in his debut.
Prediction: Karatsev in 4
Damian:
Aslan Karatsev finally makes his Grand Slam debut. His qualifying campaign was just stunning and it looks like his 2020 form will continue. Gianluca Mager definitely improved his hard court game but he’ll be facing an uphill battle here. Expect the Russian’s fantastic disposition to get him the win.
Prediction: Karatsev in 4
Yesh:
Aslan Karatsev is a rising player to watch. He breezed through qualifying and has a very winnable first round matchup. Mager is a decent player with some potential. But Karatsev looks like a future star about to break through right now.
Prediction: Karatsev in 3
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Novak Djokovic vs Jeremy Chardy
Steen:
Djokovic has never lost to Chardy (13-0). The Frenchman has actually started the season well, reaching the semis in both Turkey and one of the Melbourne warm ups, but it’s still not going to be enough form to make this a match if Djokovic is fit. You feel bad for Chardy’s unlucky draw here, as he was playing well enough to win a couple of matches.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Damian:
Jeremy Chardy played really well in his first two events this year and he could prove a dangerous opponent. But there was little to suggest vulnerability in Novak Djokovic’s performance at the ATP Cup and even if Chardy can make it sort of competitive, he isn’t beating Djokovic on the Serbian’s best favorite ground.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Yesh:
Djokovic is the best player in the world. We don’t have any reason to know what form he’s in right now, but that also means no reason to think he’s not close to his best.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
