Australian Open 2021 ramps up with a number of great clashes on Tuesday – here’s our pick of the best of them.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Gilles Simon
It’s a clash of the generations in this tantalising first-time battle. The 22 year-old Greek – currently world No.6 – takes on the 36-year-old Frenchman who reached a career high of No.6 back in 2009. Tsitsipas, who sprung onto the scene in 2019 in Melbourne with an upset of defending champion Roger Federer, is chasing history this fortnight. A title would make him the youngest Australian Open men’s champion since Novak Djokovic in 2008 and the youngest Grand Slam winner since Juan Martin Del Potro captured the 2009 US Open. Tsitsipas – who was unbeaten in singles during the ATP Cup – edges Simon in career tie-breaks, although the veteran’s win-loss percentage in five setters edges that of his opponent.
Coco Gauff vs Jil Teichmann
The 16 year-old Gauff, again the youngest player in the main draw, has already proven age is but a number. The American is seeking to replicate the form that saw her oust Naomi Osaka to advance to the round of 16 in Melbourne last year, a run that helped her reach a career-high ranking of 47 later in 2020. Stakes are high for the pair’s first meeting as a string of victories here could lead to Gauff being seeded in upcoming Grand Slams. Teichmann, the Swiss 23 year-old propelled herself to a career-high ranking of 52 last year, posting wins over players including Amanda Anisimova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Shelby Rogers, Yulia Putineseva and Danielle Collins.
Vasek Pospisil vs Daniil Medvedev [4]
Searching for sizzling tennis? Look no further. The Russian is on a 14-match winning streak, a span during which he earned victory for Team Russia at the ATP Cup, his first year-end Nitto ATP Finals in November and his second ATP Masters 1000 title in Paris. The 24 year-old, in pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam that’d make him the third Russian man to win a major (countrymen Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin won in Melbourne in 1999 and 2005 respectively) faces a challenge in Pospisil. The powerful Canadian, a quarterfinalist here in 2016, upset Medvedev in straight sets in Rotterdam last February before the Russian exacted revenge in October, giving him a 2-1 head-to-head advantage.
Karolina Muchova [25] vs Jelena Ostapenko
Who doesn’t love unchartered territory? In another first-time face-off, Czech Republic’s Muchova has a tricky opponent in the 2017 Roland Garros champion. The 23-year-old Ostapenko who is yet to advance past the third round in Melbourne, thrives on the big stage. Last season, she toppled Karolina Pliskova in straight sets at Roland Garros and scored a surprise win over Sofia Kenin just a week after the American claimed the 2020 Australian Open. But Muchova will no doubt do everything in her power to avoid another early exit - seeded 20th here last year, she fell to CiCi Bellis in the second round.
Kevin Anderson vs Matteo Berrettini [9]
An epic showdown looms here in the first clash between the pair. The unseeded South African has a track record of reaching the business end of Grand Slams, earning silverware as a finalist at the 2017 US Open and 2018 Wimbledon, where he lost to Rafael Nadal and Djokovic respectively. At 34 and a decade Berrettini’s senior, Anderson is a dangerous floater who is certainly capable of taking a top 10 scalp. But the hard-hitting Italian comes into this match brimming with confidence and momentum. Despite a loss to Medvedev in the final, he didn’t drop a set en route to victories over Dominic Thiem, Roberto Bautista Agut and Gael Monfils at last week’s ATP Cup.