With 16 second-round matches on the schedule on day three at the Australian Open, there should be plenty of entertaining tennis for the fans in Melbourne. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all 16 matches on the schedule, including Rafael Nadal vs Mackenzie McDonald, Daniil Medvedev vs John Millman and Frances Tiafoe vs Shang Juncheng. But who will reach the last 32?
Australian Open Day 3 Predictions
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rinky Hijikata
Jim: Stefanos Tsitsipas did well to escape a tough first-round draw against Quentin Halys without dropping a set. This matchup will probably suit him a little better. Rinky Hijikata did superbly to rally past Yannick Hanfmann from two sets down in the first round, but this should be a challenge too far for the Australian.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Damian: Tsitsipas avoided the banana skin in Halys and it should get easier from here. Hijikata pulled off a crazy comeback against Hanfmann, but was really let back into the match by the German. He shouldn’t pose too much of a threat against the third seed as he doesn’t have the skill set to stand up to his aggression well enough.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Jack: Hijikata did well to get through from two sets down against Hanfmann but this is a different league. It’s hard to know where the limit is for Tsitsipas in Australia having played exceptionally to kick his tournament off against Halys. The Greek is a man on a mission.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
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Sebastian Korda vs Yosuke Watanuki
Jim: Sebastian Korda’s fine start to the year continues. After pushing Novak Djokovic to the limit in Adelaide, he negotiated a difficult first-round opponent in Cristian Garin adroitly and his reward is what should be a more straightforward encounter. Yosuke Watanuki is having a great tournament, but the qualifier looks overmatched here.
Prediction: Korda in 3
Damian: Watanuki was just absurdly good in the win over Arthur Rinderknech, showing how incredible his ball-striking and shot-making can be when he’s on. He can trouble Korda, but the American is probably on enough of a hot streak right now that he should make it. He’s also got a lot more control over his game.
Prediction: Korda in 4
Jack: Watanuki has done fantastically well to get to this stage having survived match points in qualifying against Kukushkin. It’s tough to see him going one further though with the ebb and flow of the match likely determined by Korda. Nerves can sometimes affect the American so we’ll give him some time to get going but his game has improved too much of late not to back him overall.
Prediction: Korda in 4
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Christopher Eubanks vs Jiri Lehecka
Jim: Expect plenty of winners in this one. Christopher Eubanks has made a solid start to the season, with his huge serve and attacking game well-suited to the conditions in Australia. But he was made to work very hard against Kwon Soon-woo in the first round and Jiri Lehecka, who dismissed Borna Coric in the first round, is probably an even more dangerous opponent.
Prediction: Lehecka in 4
Damian: Eubanks blasted 43 aces to fend off the recent Adelaide champion, Kwon, while Lehecka crushed Coric. The American isn’t drawing dead, but it’s also hard to consider him the favorite. Lehecka seems to have improved his transition game in the off-season and should absorb the power of his big-serve fairly well.
Prediction: Lehecka in 4
Jack: Lehecka was clinical Coric. He barely gave the 23rd seed a chance to work his magic on the backhand using first-strike tennis to limit the Croatian, a very fine returner at his best, to just one break of serve. Don’t expect Eubanks’ return game to be enough to damage Lehecka’s top-30-worthy level.
Prediction: Lehecka in 3
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Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Alex Molcan
Jim: Felix Auger-Aliassime got off to a very slow start against his countryman Vasek Pospisil, but dug deep to escape in four sets. The sixth seed will be looking to rebound here. Alex Molcan will give nothing away, but after a draining five-set win over Stan Wawrinka, one does wonder how much more he has left to give.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
Damian: The first-round win over Pospisil wasn’t clean for Auger-Aliassime, but it doesn’t necessarily get tougher now. The last few months were pretty disastrous for Molcan and he was only able to advance thanks to Wawrinka blowing a big lead. Even a 70% performance from the Canadian should suffice.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
Jack: Auger-Aliassime can look back on his win against Pospisil with real satisfaction. He came back from a difficult start and was forced to find his best tennis against a player that can give you no rhythm at all. He’s got his mental game up and running and will likely be have an easier time of it against Molcan.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
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