The men’s first round continues on Day 2 of the Australian Open. We will be treated to 28 great matches, and as always our writers here at LWOT share our thoughts on them with you. Predicting these matches are Glenys Furness, Damian Kust, and Yesh Ginsburg. Those articles feature Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Zizou Bergs, Andy Murray vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alex de Minaur vs Milos Raonic, Hubert Hurkacz vs Omar Jasika, Daniil Medvedev vs Terence Atmane, and Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Dominic Thiem. Who do you think will move on to the second round in Melbourne?
Australian Open Day 2 Men’s Predictions
Stan Wawrinka vs Adrian Mannarino
Glenys:
The exciting match up of the round. Both have not played an official ranking event coming into the Grand Slam. The Frenchman actually leads the head to head, beating Wawrinka both previous times they have played. Mannarino is the seeded player and should be able to see off the Swiss. However, don’t discount Wawrinka to pull off a shock this round.
Prediction: Mannarino in 5
Damian:
Mannarino won both meetings against Wawrinka, including when they met around the 38-year-old’s prime. That kinda shows he’s able to diffuse the thunderous power of the Swiss and given he’s still very much in the form of his life, it’s enough to make him the favorite here with Wawrinka also not playing yet in 2024.
Prediction: Mannarino in 4
Yesh:
Two aging veterans will battle it out in Melbourne. Wawrinka has a better peak and is aging more gracefully, though, so I’ll take him here.
Prediction: Wawrinka in 4
Zhizhen Zhang vs Federico Coria
Glenys:
Both coming into this event cold, having not played an official warm up event. The Argentina and the Chinese player are both looking to progress. One of them will make the second round for the first time. Neither have done very well here previously, so the opportunity is a big one. Nerves may set in at the start.
Prediction: Coria in 4
Damian:
This seems relatively simple for Zhang with Coria mostly travelling to the hard court Slams for the paycheck. He’s managed to win sometimes in the past but the Chinese has so much power and it seems like he’s gotten to a point where he can actually be treated as fairly reliable player as well.
Prediction: Zhang in 3
Yesh:
Zhizhen Zheng has huge potential, and he looks like he’s ready to reach it. I expect him to take out the Argentine here. Maybe on clay Coria would win.
Prediction: Zhang in 4
Maximilian Marterer vs Nuno Borges
Glenys:
German Marterer is lower ranked currently than Portuguese Borges, but leads the head to head. Borges will want to level the score here. With neither having progressed beyond the first round, everything will be at stake for both. Borges with slightly more pressure, as the win will not only move him to the second round, but also level up the head to head .
Prediction: Borges in 5
Damian:
Marterer was part of the winning team at the United Cup, but didn’t actually get a chance to play in either singles or mixed. His form at the tail end of last year was absolutely elite though and if he keeps that going, he will be favored to win this one. Borges is not doing that much damage at tour-level anyway.
Prediction: Marterer in 4
Yesh:
Max Marterer never quite took the next step to be a top player. Nuno Borges might not have the potential, but he’s solid and has advanced consistently since winning the NCAA championship a few years back.
Prediction: Borges in 4
Ben Shelton vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Glenys:
American Ben Shelton is the seed here so the favorite on paper. Also making the semifinal last week will give him confidence going into the match. The Spaniard on the other hand has not had the best start to the season. A quarter final finish in Hong Kong, before losing in the first round last week.
Prediction: Shelton in 4
Damian:
Shelton’s Auckland performances weren’t amazing despite making the semifinals and his return has gone back to its early 2023 levels (and that’s not good). Bautista Agut would be a solid pick to make the upset but it seems like the decline is hitting the Spaniard right now. He’s usually excellent at the start of the year, maybe not this time though.
Prediction: Shelton in 4
Yesh:
What an amazing first-round match this is. Ben Shelton runs hot and cold, but he’s been red hot at the biggest tournaments recently. If that continues, he could have yet another career-building win here.
Prediction: Shelton in 4
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
