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Sebastian Korda will search for his first ATP tour win over Aleksandar Vukic because the second spherical kicks off on the Australian Open on Wednesday. American Reilly Opelka can even be in motion in opposition to upstart Tomas Machac.
(22) Sebastian Korda vs. Aleksandar Vukic
Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic defeated Sebastian Korda of their solely earlier ATP Tour encounter, a decent three-set match on the Toronto Masters in 2023 when the Aussie was a qualifier. Vukic completed out the 2024 season in spectacular style after limping by the primary half of the marketing campaign. He made the semis in Almaty and the semis on the Taipai Challenger. He’s ranked 68th on this planet, considerably off his profession excessive of No. 48. Vukic endured a slog of a five-set win over Damir Dzumhur on Monday.
Korda had a improbable begin to the 2025 season in Adelaide final week. The American made the ultimate, the place he misplaced a three-setter to Felix Auger-Aliassime. Even if Vukic may have the hometown crowd help, the nod has to go to Korda on this encounter. Whereas he hasn’t had notable success at majors, Korda’s greatest results of the 4 has are available in Melbourne (2023 quarterfinals). He earned his spot within the second spherical with a four-set win over Lukas Klein, sustaining momentum from final week.
Cheryl choose: Korda in 4Ricky choose: Vukic in 5
(26) Tomas Machac vs. Reilly Opelka
A completely wholesome Reilly Opelka would make this match one to be watched for an upset. Sadly for the towering American, he’s as soon as once more not totally match. Opelka, who spent almost two years sidelined with hip and wrist accidents (and surgical procedure restoration), made an impression in Brisbane a pair weeks in the past–significantly together with his upset win over Novak Djokovic. However he was pressured to retire within the closing in opposition to Jiri Lehecka with wrist issues.
Opelka posted a rain-delayed four-set win within the first spherical over Gauthier Onclin and claimed to be “feeling okay” in his post-match interview. The issue for Opelka is that Tomas Machac is way more completed than the 239th-ranked Onclin. In what was a promising 2024, Machac capped off his yr with a run to the semifinals in Shanghai. He’ll nonetheless need to cope with Opelka’s monster first serve on this match, however the world No. 25 needs to be well-positioned to advance.
Cheryl choose: Machac in 4Ricky choose: Machac in 5
