{"id":54219,"date":"2023-01-17T04:32:07","date_gmt":"2023-01-17T09:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=54219"},"modified":"2023-01-16T12:47:25","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T17:47:25","slug":"australian-open-day-3-mens-predictions-tiafoe-shang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2023\/01\/17\/australian-open-day-3-mens-predictions-tiafoe-shang\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open Day 3 Men\u2019s Predictions Including Frances Tiafoe vs Shang Juncheng"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After an exciting start to the Australian Open, the entertainment is set to continue on day three with 16 second-round matches on the slate in Melbourne. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Rafael Nadal vs Mackenzie McDonald, Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rinky Hijikata and Daniil Medvedev vs John Millman. But who will secure their spot in the third round?<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Australian Open Day 3 Men\u2019s Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h4><strong>Frances Tiafoe vs Shang Juncheng<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Jim: Frances Tiafoe looks set for a big tournament. He likes these conditions and is coming off the best season of his career. Shang Juncheng had a solid qualifying campaign and impressed in his four-set win over Oscar Otte in the first round, but Tiafoe is a huge step in the quality of opposition.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Tiafoe in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Damian: Shang continues to show he suddenly went up not one, but two gears during the off-season. It probably won\u2019t result in a win over Tiafoe, although it wouldn\u2019t be a shock to see him keep it tight, especially as the American got himself into plenty of unnecessary trouble vs Altmaier.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Tiafoe in 4<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jack: Shang winning his first Grand Slam main draw match at only 17 years old might sound like the norm in the era of Carlos Alcaraz, in reality, it\u2019s far from it. It\u2019s still early days though &#8211; Tiafoe will be tested but should come through a close battle.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Tiafoe in 4<br \/>\n<a id=\"r4imirpgR0dVfSFnuhT5Rw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1456775826\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'r4imirpgR0dVfSFnuhT5Rw',sig:'sbc2ovC8uqxGDZCLiNGWAk1MSvKrNoXjWHb1hRqQOZ8=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1456775826',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/em><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Taro Daniel vs Denis Shapovalov<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Jim: Denis Shapovalov got the better of Dusan Lajovic in the first round in a match that was high on style points but probably does not say a great deal about his chances of a deep run in Melbourne. Beating Taro Daniel would not make that much of a statement in that regard either, but for a player not exactly renowned for his consistency, it would be a start.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Shapovalov in 4<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Damian: Shapovalov dropped a set to Lajovic and will need to be slightly cleaner against Daniel, who showcased some great defensive abilities vs Escobedo. The higher upside of the Canadian should be enough, but it doesn\u2019t have to be that easy if the opponent can serve at his very best level.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Shapovalov in 4<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jack: Never ever back Shapovalov in straight sets. Even saying he played well against Lajovic out loud feels like a jinx. Nevertheless, Shapovalov should find his best offence consistently enough to get through Daniel.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Shapovalov in 4<br \/>\n<a id=\"PMtYFfoOQX1ebuU5ns2czQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1456682122\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'PMtYFfoOQX1ebuU5ns2czQ',sig:'CG95Cs5mhHu4CBBhVXz-P7T6KFjegq0Vwnt7ws0-fKA=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1456682122',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/em><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Jannik Sinner vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Jim: Jannik Sinner made light work of Kyle Edmund in the first round, with the Briton still a long way short of full match fitness. Tomas Martin Etcheverry should present more of a challenge, but it would still be something of a surprise to see the hard-hitting Italian drop a set here.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Sinner in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Damian: Etcheverry is improving on hard courts and his heavy forehand can become a real weapon on this surface as well. The movement isn\u2019t really there yet though and he could get more out of his serve. In longer baseline rallies on this surface, Sinner should be outplaying him somewhat comfortably.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Sinner in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jack: Etcheverry has done well to come through his first round against Barrere but Sinner is a completely different kettle of fish. If Sinner is unhampered by injury (and his first match against Edmund would suggest so), there shouldn\u2019t be much drama.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Sinner in 3<br \/>\n<a id=\"FzDy_FQYTDRpaz7AqcJMIw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1456678353\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'FzDy_FQYTDRpaz7AqcJMIw',sig:'izY10QhawHq1-tPEADc3WtlU4da-wZRvLV-hh96r4Bk=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1456678353',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/em><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Cameron Norrie vs Corentin Lestienne<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Jim: Lestienne has been playing some solid tennis lately without a great deal of reward. That is set to continue here with Cameron Norrie a similar, but rather more accomplished, profile of player. Ultimately, Lestienne just does not do enough better than Norrie to see a realistic path to victory for the Frenchman.<\/p>\n<p>Damian: It looks like Lestienne\u2019s shoulder injury has healed up now as he was serving at his usual speeds in the opening round with Monteiro. The rallies should be entertaining, but it\u2019s also hard not to see Norrie eventually grinding him down. The longer it goes, the more it will favor the Brit as well.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Norrie in 4<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jack: Norrie won\u2019t come into this match cold as he was forced to raise his level against Luca Van Assche. Lestienne plays a tricky game himself but Norrie is the tour\u2019s master of changing\/taking on different ball spins and heights. A bad match-up for the Frenchman.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prediction: Norrie in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Main photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"z0PxsBeVTUZs3Plc0r--ag\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1456749545\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'z0PxsBeVTUZs3Plc0r--ag',sig:'fcOoEWhTSWQ_hPgn5aRn1gpLPhjLhXG_mvu9EF5e7gk=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1456749545',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After an exciting start to the Australian Open, the entertainment is set to continue on day three with 16 second-round matches on the slate in Melbourne. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Rafael Nadal vs Mackenzie McDonald, Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Rinky Hijikata and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3704,"featured_media":54221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[2363,1688,15472,18526,776,15517,348,15512,5862,15518,18524,18525,985,15580,2373,2369,12521,17182],"class_list":["post-54219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-predictions","tag-australian-open-predictions","tag-cameron-norrie","tag-cameron-norrie-predictions","tag-corentin-lestienne-predictions","tag-denis-shapovalov","tag-denis-shapovalov-predictions","tag-frances-tiafoe","tag-frances-tiafoe-predictions","tag-jannik-sinner","tag-jannik-sinner-predictions","tag-shang-juncheng","tag-shang-juncheng-predictions","tag-taro-daniel","tag-taro-daniel-predictions","tag-tennis-picks","tag-tennis-predictions","tag-tomas-martin-etcheverry","tag-tomas-martin-etcheverry-predictions"],"modified_by":"Jim Smith","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3704"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}