A jam-packed slate of first-round motion is ready for Monday, when Felix Auger-Aliassime and Dominic Thiem are taking the court docket.
Listed here are my previews and picks for 2 of the very best matchups on the boys’s facet.
(27) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Dominic Thiem
Auger-Aliassime and Thiem will likely be going head-to-head for the second time of their careers after they conflict in spherical one of many Australian Open on Monday. Their solely earlier assembly got here within the fourth spherical of the 2020 U.S. Open, with Thiem successful 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-1 on the way in which to his first and solely Grand Slam title.
Neither participant is anyplace close to main title competition at this level, as each have fallen upon exhausting instances. Auger-Aliassime is all the way down to twenty seventh on the earth. He has performed just one match this yr and misplaced instantly in Auckland to Daniel Altmaier. Thiem is struggling down at No. 94 within the rankings, however he a minimum of managed to win 19 main-tour matches final season and efficiently certified in Brisbane earlier than shedding to Rafael Nadal. The 30-year-old Austrian might have a slight edge on Sunday, however that is in all probability going to be an unsightly, wild experience.
Decide: Thiem in 5
(20) Adrian Mannarino vs. Stan WawrinkaWawrinka gained the Australian Open 10 years in the past, has reached the semifinals two different instances, and has superior to the quarters on two different events. In fact, this isn’t the identical Wawrinka at 38 years outdated. The Swiss, who has not been previous the second spherical at Melbourne Park since 2020, was 2-7 in his final 9 matches of the 2023 marketing campaign. He has not but performed in 2024.
Up first for the three-time Grand Slam champion is Mannarino, who’s in significantly better kind. The 35-year-old Frenchman has climbed to twentieth on the earth due to 43 match wins and three titles ATP titles final season. Mannarino compiled a 1-3 document on the United Cup, however the competitors was robust and there’s nothing dangerous about getting 4 good matches below your belt heading into a significant. This could go the lefty’s manner–but it surely could possibly be a enjoyable one.
Decide: Mannarino in 5
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
