The underside half of the lads’s singles draw opens play Tuesday on the Australian Open, with a full slate of marquee matchups and star names on Melbourne’s Day 2 schedule.
Novak Djokovic begins his marketing campaign for his record-extending tenth title in Melbourne in opposition to Roberto Carballes Baena, whereas Matteo Berrettini meets Andy Murray within the day’s different ATP matchup on Rod Laver Area. Andrey Rublev faces wild card Dominic Thiem in one other popcorn encounter, whereas Prime 10 seeds Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune are additionally in motion.
ATPTour.com seems to be at a few of Tuesday’s largest clashes.
View Schedule | View Singles Draw
[13] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs. Andy Murray (GBR)
A rematch of their 2022 US Open third-round assembly, received by Berrettini in 4 units, this encounter units up as an early litmus take a look at for each males. Murray, for his half, feels ready to show the tables on the Italian after three straight losses of their ATP Head2Head.
“I really feel able to play a high participant early within the occasion,” Murray mentioned in a pre-tournament presser on Saturday. “I understand how I’m feeling right now in comparison with once I went into the match on the US Open and I’m enjoying higher. I’m in a greater place bodily. I really feel nicely ready for the occasion. Clearly the matches I’ve performed in opposition to him [before], you’d hope you’d be taught stuff from and take stuff away from it that may allow you to go into the following one.”
The Briton has performed only one ATP Tour match this season — a straight-sets defeat to eventual finalist Sebastian Korda in Adelaide. By the measure of match play, Berrettini has the sting.
The Break Level star opened the 2023 season with three wins on the United Cup, together with Prime 10 victories in opposition to Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz, however adopted that up with tight defeats to Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz as Workforce Italy completed runner-up within the mixed-gender occasion. Berrettini’s run to the Australian Open semi-finals final season will add to his confidence in Melbourne, as will his stellar latest report on the majors: the 26-year-old has reached the quarter-finals or higher in every of his previous 5 Slam appearances.
You Could Additionally Like:
Getting To Know Netflix Break Level Star Matteo Berrettini
That’s the kind of type Murray loved in his youthful years, when he reached the quarters at 18 straight Slams from 2011-15, profitable titles on the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon. However partly attributable to his harm woes, the Briton has not been past the third spherical at a Slam since he reached the 2017 Wimbledon quarters as World No. 1.
But Murray is in no temper to look again on his previous success: “I don’t really feel proper now’s a time for reflection for me,” he mentioned. “I’m seeking to the long run, nevertheless lengthy I’ve left, to give attention to how I can get the perfect out of my recreation and physique and obtain the perfect outcomes potential.”
[5] Andrey Rublev vs. [WC] Dominic Thiem (AUT)
A standout first-round conflict set to exhilarate the Melbourne crowds sees the highly effective Rublev meet 2020 finalist Thiem on John Cain Area. The World No. 6 Rublev holds a transparent benefit by way of present rating however Thiem, the 2020 US Open champion and a two-time finalist at Roland Garros, has better Grand Slam pedigree.
Regardless of beginning 2023 with two defeats, Rublev will look to his 4-2 ATP Head2Head collection lead for confidence in opposition to an opponent who remains to be looking for his greatest stage after lacking 9 months throughout the 2021 and 2022 seasons attributable to a wrist harm. The fifth-seeded Rublev reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne in 2021, however he can be cautious of Thiem’s all-around high quality in what might be an intriguing matchup.
[4] Novak Djokovic (SER) vs. Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)
9-time Australian Open champion Djokovic’s bid for a record-equalling twenty second Grand Slam title begins on Rod Laver Area in opposition to the World No. 75 Carballes Baena. The Serbian isn’t just bidding to attract stage with Rafael Nadal’s tally of main titles this fortnight in Melbourne — he can even safe a return to No. 1 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings by lifting the trophy.
Djokovic received his solely earlier match in opposition to Carballes Baena in straight units on the 2019 US Open. Extremely, the present World No. 4 has not misplaced a match wherever in Australia since nicely earlier than that New York assembly, placing collectively a 34-match profitable streak within the nation since his fourth-round defeat to Hyeon Chung in Melbourne in 2018.
Making and breaking data at Rod Laver Area 🏆 🏆 🏆 👀
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2023
Carballes Baena is but to win a set in three earlier matches in opposition to Prime 5 opponents, however the Spaniard has skilled first-round success at Melbourne Park earlier than. He defeated Attila Balazs in 2021 earlier than falling to eventual finalist Daniil Medvedev within the second spherical. Can he spring a historic shock Monday on Rod Laver Area?
Additionally In Motion…
Like Djokovic, second seed Casper Ruud can change into World No. 1 by claiming the Australian Open title this fortnight [Ruud can also rise to top spot by reaching the final if Stefanos Tsitsipas doesn’t win the title]. The Norwegian begins his bid for a maiden Grand Slam crown together with his first tour-level assembly in opposition to Czech Tomas Machac. Eighth seed Taylor Fritz can even look to make a quick begin to his Melbourne marketing campaign after tasting United Cup success as a part of Workforce USA. The 25-year-old opens in opposition to Nikoloz Basilashvili.
A shocking finish to 2022 noticed Holger Rune break the Prime 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the primary time, however the 19-year-old Dane will wish to bounce again from first-round defeat in Adelaide two weeks in the past in his first-round conflict in opposition to Filip Krajinovic. The 2020 semi-finalist Alexander Zverev additionally chases his first victory of the 12 months in opposition to fortunate loser Juan Pablo Varillas.
Seven dwelling favourites will search to journey dwelling assist to a spot within the second spherical on Tuesday. They embrace twenty second seed Alex de Minaur, who performs qualifier Hsu Yu Hsiou, and final week’s Adelaide semi-finalist Thanasi Kokkinakis. The 26-year-old faces Fabio Fognini in what is ready to be an entertaining conflict on Kia Area. Different Australians in motion embrace Jordan Thompson, who faces J.J. Wolf, and wild card Alexei Popyrin, who meets Tseng Chun-Hsin.