Day 3 at the ATP 250 in Brisbane comes with more first round of matches in the main draw as herald in a New Year. As always, we’re down under to come with who we think will have their heads above water. Three of the matches on the cards today are players who are meeting for the first time. Who will come out tops?<\/p>\n
Head\u2013to\u2013Head: <\/strong>First meeting<\/p>\n Lukas Klein appears to be enjoying his time here Down Under. He recorded impressive victories over hard hitters, Quentin Halys and Maxime Cressy, in the qualifiers and he definitely wouldn\u2019t want to exit the main draw at the first time of asking.<\/p>\n Sebastian Baez was one of the better players of last year. At a point, he was on a 12-match winning streak before yielding to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals of the US Open.<\/p>\n The Argentine is the better player but I think this will be very close. The last time Klein qualified for an ATP 250 event, he made it past the first round and I\u2019ll be tipping him to have enough to nick a third win here. Head\u2013to\u2013Head: <\/strong>First Meeting<\/p>\n It will be a battle of namesakes in the first round here in Brisbane as qualifier Tomas Machac challenges his higher-ranked counterpart Tomas Etcheverry.<\/p>\n The Czech was in fantastic form last year as a 13-match unbeaten run launched him into the top 100 and he\u2019s arrived here in Brisbane in fine form dispatching his opponents in straight sets.<\/p>\n Argentine, Tomas Etcheverry had a very decent 2023 season<\/a> and he\u2019ll be looking to build on his performances this year after establishing himself in the top half of the rankings.<\/p>\n Etcheverry is often involved in lengthy matches and I expect that this one wouldn\u2019t be any different. However, Machac looks like the better player in form and on hard courts and should win this.
\nPrediction: Klein in 3<\/em><\/p>\nTomas Martin Etcheverry vs Tomas Machac<\/h4>\n
\nPrediction: Machac in 3<\/em><\/p>\n