The second round of men’s singles starts on Day 4 of the Australian Open. We get 16 matches as players look to move on to Round 3. Which players will those be? As always, our writers here at LWOT share their thoughts. We split the day’s matches between this and three other articles. Those articles feature Novak Djokovic vs Alexei Popyrin, Frances Tiafoe vs Tomas Machac, and Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Jordan Thompson. Predicting these matches are Jack Edward, Jordan Reynolds, Damian Kust, and Tope Oke.
Australian Open Day 4 Men’s Predictions
Taylor Fritz vs Hugo Gaston
Jack:
Fritz isn’t considered by most to be the biggest threat this fortnight. Though he’s made a few Slam quarterfinals, his record in the Slams is worse than his overall win rate. I still think Gaston’s game won’t trouble him but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the American sustain an early loss at some point.
Prediction: Fritz in 4
Jordan:
Fritz has suffered some shock early Grand Slam losses in the past, and it nearly happened again in the opening round. He needed five sets to defeat clay court specialist Facundo Diaz Acosta. Gaston is very mercurial but is dangerous when at his very best. The Frenchman is likely to best Fritz if the American plays like the previous round. I will back Fritz to avoid that fate.
Prediction: Fritz in 4
Damian:
Fritz was lightly injured against Diaz Acosta, but now that he has had two days to recover he might keep going. The main thing is that his form just isn’t there at the moment and he’s generally not a great Grand Slam player with the one-dimensional nature of his game and how others get used to it. I’ll back him here, but it’s not a vote of confidence against someone with as much variety as Gaston.
Prediction: Fritz in 4
Tope:
Taylor Fritz won a five-setter for the ninth time in his career in the first round and the American number one will be hoping to better his 4th round exit here last year. He’s up against another left-hander, Hugo Gaston who won’t leave easily but Fritz should have enough to send him out.
Prediction: Fritz in 4
Daniel Elahi Galan vs Sebastian Baez
Jack:
It is always such an uphill battle for Baez on a hard court. His shots and movement are made for rally tolerance and his serve is more of a point starter than a weapon. Galan has worked hard to break the Top 100 and should likely be considered the slight favorite.
Prediction: Galan in 5
Jordan:
Baez’s significant improvement on hard courts was shown with an impressive win against JJ Wolf in the first round. Galan will hit very flat shots in comparison to Baez’s heavy topspin, and he is dangerous when he gets some rhythm. Something tells me the mercurial Galan will rush Baez enough to pull off a shock in this one. The Colombian to get a surprise win in four sets.
Prediction: Galan in 4
Damian:
Baez is a bit on and off on hard courts but the exact same thing can be said about Galan. It’s probably the Colombian who has the bigger weapons with the serve/forehand combo and sometimes can use them for upsets like the one vs Stefanos Tsitsipas in New York. Baez looks more reliable here and has a higher floor.
Prediction: Baez in 5
Tope:
It took over five hours for Daniel Galan to silence the home fans and win for the first time here in Melbourne. An all-South American clash looms against Sebastian Baez who has the luxury of being more well rested after J.J. Wolf retired in the 4th set. The Argentine is the better player and I’m backing him to earn his third win over Galan and make it to the 3rd round.
Prediction: Baez in 4
Adrian Mannarino vs Jaume Munar
Jack:
Top 20 debutant Adrian Mannarino will give anybody a headache. Munar is the kind of player that can be overpowered rather than disrupted, however. I’m expecting a five-hour marathon.
Prediction: Mannarino in 5
Jordan:
Mannarino is better ranked, playing the tennis of his life and has a better CV on hard courts. However, Munar got a surprising and also comfortable victory against Alexander Shevchenko in round 1. Mannarino also had a five-set March with Stan Wawrinka, but the Frenchman is physically very strong. I think he will prevail in a match which will contain many long rallies.
Prediction: Mannarino in 3
Damian:
Munar posted a rare hard-court win over Alexander Shevchenko in the opening round, comfortably exposing the Russian’s struggles when it comes to constructing attacking points. Mannarino can be a bit grindy as well so it’s not a horrible matchup for him either, but you’d expect the Frenchman in the form of his life to prevail on this surface anyway.
Prediction: Mannarino in 4
Tope:
Jaume Munar has shown tremendous improvement on hard courts this season, winning at least a set in all of his matches and dominating Alexander Shevchenko to reach the second round for the second time. Adrian Mannarino bageled Stan Wawrinka in the final set to clinch the battle of the veterans. Munar cannot be ruled out in this one but defeating the more experienced Frenchman might be too much of an ask.
Prediction: Mannarino in 5
Andrey Rublev vs Christopher Eubanks
Jack:
Perhaps contrary to popular belief, Andrey Rublev is in the top 10 best returners on the tour. There’s a lot Rublev can do to hurt Eubanks whilst there won’t be so much Eubanks can do to hurt Rublev. I’ll give the American a tiebreak but this should be Rublev’s day.
Prediction: Rublev in 4
Jordan:
Rublev’s victory in a final-set tiebreak with Thiago Seyboth Wild was the best match of the first-round so far. The world No. 5 played well, yet he was still almost toppled by an inspired Seyboth Wild. Eubanks was in great form in the opening round, and his big-serving game will be a test for Rublev. But I think the Russian will find enough chances on the Eubanks serve, and should be able to hold his own serve consistently.
Prediction: Rublev in 4
Damian:
These courts actually seem to suit Eubanks’s flat forehand, so I’m putting my thesis about the American falling off this year a bit on hold for now. He should make it fairly tricky for Rublev, but I can’t go against the Russian who has that extremely solid base level and hasn’t lost in 2024 yet despite seemingly not getting out of second gear.
Prediction: Rublev in 4
Tope:
It appears Chris Eubanks saves his best tennis for Slams with the way he destroyed the in-form Daniel Taro in straight sets in the first round. But his best won’t be enough against one of the best. Rublev is a different class.
Prediction: Rublev in 4
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
