Expect plenty of exciting tennis on day three at the Australian Open. There are 16 intriguing second-round clashes on the slate in Melbourne and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all 16 matches on the schedule, including Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rinky Hijikata, Rafael Nadal vs Mackenzie McDonald and Frances Tiafoe vs Shang Juncheng. But who will reach the round of 32?
Australian Open Day 3 Predictions
Daniil Medvedev vs John Millman
Jim: There are few matches on day three almost certain to consist entirely of short sharp exchanges. This will not be one of them. But although John Millman covers the court exceptionally and can pack a punch off the ground, it is hard to think of anything he does better than Daniil Medvedev. If the Russian is at his best, or close to his best, he should be winning this pretty comfortably.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Damian: Perhaps there was a time when Millman could trouble Medvedev, but that ship has sailed. The Australian will not be able to keep up with him in the rallies and doesn’t have the power to blow him off the court, leaving him without a sensible game plan to follow in this matchup. It shouldn’t be that much tougher than against Giron.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
Jack: We all remember Millman’s heroics against Roger Federer in New York and Melbourne. The Aussie lived with the legend with much the same game plan as Novak Djokovic – his backhand was rock solid and he benefitted from a few loose returns. But Medvedev won’t give him loose returns or pull the trigger too early. The Russian will win most of the long rallies whilst tracking down every serve from five metres behind the baseline. If you saw Millman playing Zverev last year, expect things to go very similarly.
Prediction: Medvedev in 3
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Hubert Hurkacz vs Lorenzo Sonego
Jim: Hubert Hurkacz got his Australian Open campaign off to a very strong start against Pedro Martinez and will be looking to back that up against Lorenzo Sonego, who has slightly lost his way of late. A win here would get the Italian back on track, but Hurkacz’s variety and superior court-coverage should prove the difference.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 4
Damian: Here’s another episode of “Hurkacz gets a chance to break through to the third round of a Slam”. This time, he should do it, but it’s not going to come easy if his tendency of underperforming in this scenario continues. He also lost to Sonego in Metz last year, but it’s really high time for one of the greatest best-of-three hard courters in the world to prove himself in the longer format.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 4
Jack: Hurkacz has looked a little vulnerable recently and has been unlucky to draw Sonego as an unseeded early opponent. Slightly slower conditions are more likely to suit the Italian than the Pole. Still it’s got to be mighty slow for Hurkacz’s serve not to be an issue (Martinez didn’t get a break point opportunity in the first round). It’ll be tough but back the world #11.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 5
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Yoshihito Nishioka vs Dalibor Svrcina
Jim: Dalibor Svrcina is one to keep an eye on in the coming months. The Czech was excellent in the qualifying and maintained that high level in the first round to take (an admittedly below-par) Jaume Munar apart. But Yoshihito Nishioka has been in fine form himself and, at this point, his experience and versatility should just about give him the edge over the comparatively raw Svrcina.
Prediction: Nishioka in 5
Damian: Svrcina is one of the surprises of the tournament, but he mostly advanced through the opening round due to Munar having an absolute disaster. Nishioka is in amazing form and while the rallies will be long as he doesn’t really blow you off the court, he should be able to outmanoeuvre the youngster.
Prediction: Nishioka in 4
Jack: Great wins from Svrcina against Munar and Riedi should not be ignored. Nishioka will likely be a step up in class however. Every ball will come back and, no matter how hard Svrcina strikes, hit it to the wrong spot and it’ll come back with interest. Hard not to back experience over youth here.
Prediction: Nishioka in 4
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Lloyd Harris vs Marton Fucsovics
Jim: It’s good to see Lloyd Harris back on court. The South African is one of the biggest hitters on tour and that usually guarantees excitement. Marton Fucsovics does not want for power either and has a solid record on Australian hard courts. There’s probably not much in this, but Fucsovics has more tennis behind him and that may well prove decisive.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 4
Damian: It’s all going to be about the recovery for Harris, who arrived on short notice from Thailand and somehow held up well physically in a four-hour-long match. Fucsovics wasn’t impressive at all in his five-set win over Coria. The Hungarian’s more of a sure thing, but it could be really tight.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 5
Jack: Difficult one to call. We can safely assume Harris’s injury isn’t having too much of an impact on his tennis after his win over Lorenzo Musetti, though it was a good match up for the South African. Fucsovics will put far more serves back in the court which should be enough to unpick Harris.
Prediction: Fucsovics in 4
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