Andy Murray will contest his third-round Australian Open match against Joao Sousa on Saturday. Right beside them in the draw are fellows Aussies Bernard Tomic and John Millman.
(32) Joao Sousa vs. (2) Andy Murray
Murray and Sousa will be going head-to-head for the seventh time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Australian Open on Saturday. All six of their previous encounters have gone the way of of Murray, including two in Melbourne and last season in this very same round. The second-ranked Scot dominated that encounter 6-1, 6-1, 7-5, having previously cruised past Sousa in the second round of the 2013 event via a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 decision. Their most recent meeting also came at the Grand Slam level, with Murray prevailing 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the last 32 of the 2015 French Open. Sousa is 1-15 in total sets against his heavily-favored opponent and not a single one has progressed to a tiebreaker.
Fresh off a triumphant end of 2015 in which he led Great Britain to the Davis Cup title, Murray has started strong this season. The two-tome major champion rolled over Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday before destroying Sam Groth 6-0, 6-4, 6-1. Sousa has advanced in relatively simple fashion, as well. The 32nd and final seed trounced Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 then held off Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1. This is Sousa’s third trip to the third round of a Grand Slam and he is 0-2 in two previous appearances. There is no reason to think this time will be the charm.
Pick: Murray in 3 losing 11-13 games
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(16) Bernard Tomic vs. John Millman
It will be an all-Australian showdown when Tomic and Millman go head-to-head for the second time in their careers. Their only previous contest came at the Challenger level in 2011, when Tomic survived 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(6) in Caloundra, Australia. Meeting No. 2 comes as a considerable surprise, as Millman has stormed from basically out of nowhere to reach the last 32 Down Under. The world No. 95 had been 1-3 in main draws of slams prior to this fortnight, including 0-2 in Melbourne. Millman booked his improbable third-round spot by defeating Diego Schwartzman in four sets (Schwartzman collapsed and retired one game from defeat) and Gilles Muller in five.
Three years younger than his countryman, Tomic is obviously far more accomplished. He registers inside the top 20 at 17th in the world and is a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist (2011). With one more victory, Tomic will advance to the fourth round in Melbourne for a third time. He eased past Denis Istomin to begin the fortnight before winning a relatively bizarre four-setter against Simone Bolelli on Thursday night. Although Tomic had previously not even faced a single break point, he suddenly failed to serve out the match in the third. Bolelli won it before both men struggled physically through a low-quality fourth. Tomic ultimately prevailed 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5. The 16th seed will not want to make the same mistake twice, and there is no reason why he should against such an inexperienced opponent on Saturday.
Pick: Tomic in 3
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Andy Murray in 3. Sousa gets 8-10 games.
Tomic in 3. But kudos to Millman! There is a chance that Bernie forgets where he is for a set and Millman makes it closer – see Berie’s last match.
Murray losing 11-13 games winning in three
Tomic in four
I am going with Ricky and picking Murray to beat Sela losing 11-13 games. This is a good result for Sela, but it all ends in this match.
I think Tomic should win in 3 sets.
Sela????
Ricky,
Sorry, I meant Sousa! That’s what happens when you only get four and a half hours of sleep! I forget who is playing who! 🙂
!!!!
got the right poll up now #oops
Murray in 3 losing 12-14 games
Tomic in 4 (just like his first two matches, gets complacent for a set to make it interesting)
La Monf just finished up so I’m heading to bed since its almost 2 am. Hope to see millman and Sousa in the fourth round against each other when I wake up lol. Expecting a Tomic VS Murray matchup though of course.
Monfils-Robert was insane
Super entertaining. Some of the rallies were wicked. Wish Robert could’ve closed out one of those sets or even both and then we could have a first time GS quarterfinalist. But it will be good to see monfils make the quarters as well as long as he gets past Kuznetsov of course.
Yes, I stayed up to watch that one. There were some insane rallies and crazy shots. Very enjoyable. I always love watching Monfils, especially when he’s feeling it and is on his game. He will have either Sela or Kuznetsov, so I like his chances to get to the quarterfinals.
Play has been suspended on Rod Laver for a good 1/2 hour because someone collapsed in Anna Ivanovic’s box. Does anyone know any more?
^^^Andy Murray’s father-in-law Nigel Sears collapses during Australian Open clash between Ana Ivanovic and Madison Keys
By STUART FRASER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 09:21, 23 January 2016 | UPDATED: 09:22, 23 January 2016
Latest news from Yahoo
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/tennis—australian-open–andy-murray-s-father-in-law-collapses-courtside-as-match-is-suspended-092810246.html
“Bizarrely, it’s the second time this tournament that something like this has happened to Ivanovic – her last match was also halted when a spectator fell badly in the stands and needed treatment.”
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/tennis—australian-open–andy-murray-s-father-in-law-collapses-courtside-as-match-is-suspended-092810246.html
They are all falling head over heels for Ana. 🙂
Meanwhile Murray loses the 2nd set to Sousa. There goes a lot of people’s predictions lol
But he is now clear ahead in the 3rd set – 5:2
Sousa testing Murray every inch of the way now. After losing the 3rd he regrouped and continues forcing Murray into uncharacteristic number of errors, plus Murrays serve percentage is way too low for comfort. I can see this going five sets at this rate.
I think the end is nigh for Sousa.
Brave effort on his part.
Murray gets the first break in 4th set and consolidate at 4:2
Sousa trained with Rafa in Malloca, no wonder he improves so much. I like his aggressive approach.