Australian Open Day 1 picks, including Simon vs. Pospisil and Thiem vs. Mayer

Ricky Dimon of The Grandstand and Joey Hanf of The Tennis Nerds preview and pick the four best men’s singles matches on Monday at the Australian Open. Gilles Simon, Vasek Pospisil, and Dominic Thiem are among those in action.

Vasek Pospisil vs. (14) Gilles Simon

Ricky: Aside from a surprising run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals, last season once again saw Pospisil perform much better in doubles than in singles. He flirted with an Australian Open seed (currently 39th in the world), but that ranking is due almost entirely to his showing at the All-England Club. Early returns suggest the Canadian could be in for more of the same in 2016: a singles effort that gets overshadowed by his doubles prowess. Pospisil lost right away in Chennai to Aljaz Bedene and got blown out in the Sydney second round by doubles partner Jack Sock. Simon has won his opener in eight of nine Australian Open appearances, including seven in a row. The Frenchman will be too consistent from the back of the court. Simon 7-6(4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Joey: Simon keeps getting older, and while he has shown small signs of slowing down, the Frenchman always seems to hang around. He’s way more talented than people make him out to be, and I’ve always felt that he’s extremely fun to watch. After a breakthrough two years ago, Pospisil has stalled in his progression a bit. He’s still got the firepower to play at a high level, but his consistency and ability to stay healthy has been average at best. On the slow hard courts in Melbourne, I think Simon neutralizes Pospisil’s serve enough to get through in four, topsy-turvy and unpredictable sets. Simon 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(4).

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(19) Dominic Thiem vs. Leonardo Mayer

Ricky: The last head-to-head showdown between these two players was an absolute thriller. In the 2015 Nice final, Thiem outlasted Mayer 6-7(8), 7-5, 7-6(2). Overall, Thiem leads the head-to-head series 2-1; they faced each other twice in 2014, with the Austrian prevailing in Monte-Carlo qualifying before Mayer cruised in Hamburg. This is a matchup of similar styles. Both men have big serves, flat one-handers off the backhand side, and forehands with plenty of topspin. Thiem-Mayer really could go either way, but Thiem is now 22 years old and ready to announce himself as a future contender for slam titles. If this is going to be a big season for the 19th seed, it cannot start with a first-round loss Down Under. Thiem 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4.

Joey: A fantastic matchup that should be very entertaining for the fans. These are of the best one-handed backhands on tour, and Thiem and Mayer each compete extremely hard every time out on court. Mayer’s best surface is clay, but the Argentine can certainly play on hard courts and the high-bouncing surface is a great fit for his long strokes. The problem is Thiem also plays with big, long strokes and he’s probably a little better than Mayer off of both sides. His heavy spin on the forehand evened out with the flat pace of his backhand offers an often puzzling contrast for his opponents. I think Mayer will have the chance to take this to five, but Thiem stays strong in four sets. Thiem 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

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(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Marcos Baghdatis

Ricky: Baghdatis finished runner-up at the Aussie Open in 2006. Tsonga did the same in 2008. One of these charismatic performers will be gone on the first day this time around–and it will almost certainly be the Cypriot. Although they are both 30 years old, Baghdatis is slowing down to a greater extent than Tsonga–despite the fact that the Frenchman’s injury list may be even more extensive. Baghdatis registers at 48th in the world, 38 spots behind his opponent. He is also 0-5 lifetime against Tsonga and 0-4 on hard courts. While Baghdatis has not played since last October, Tsonga put injury concerns to rest with a decent semifinal showing in Auckland last week. Entertainment in this one will be high, but for the most part it will be straightforward. Tsonga 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-4.

Joey: Five years ago this first-round match would have been an absolute blockbuster in Australia, where both have performed so well in their careers. Each one has made the final, and while it doesn’t feel that long ago, it’s been upwards of eight years. Baghdatis is a crowd favorite in Melbourne and he has seen somewhat of a resurgence over the last 18 months. That being said, Tsonga looked good in the lead-up to Australia and his serve will likely push him through this one after a tight first set. Tsonga 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-4.

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Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (7) Kei Nishikori

Ricky: Nishikori vs. Benoit Paire in the first round of the 2015 U.S. Open had upset written all over it. And that’s exactly what happened. Nishikori has won just a single match in the last two majors combined and he has fallen in the first round at three of his last nine slams. This may not be as scary as his New York date with Paire because at this point in time Kohlschreiber is not as dangerous as the Frenchman and Nishikori is more prone to early exits at the U.S. Open than at the Australian Open. But in 10 previous appearances Down Under, the German has never lost in the first round. Interestingly, this is the first-ever meeting between Nishikori and Kohlschreiber. And it should be a good one. Nishikori 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3.

Joey: Certainly my favorite first-round encounter. Both smaller in stature, their ball-striking all but makes up for their lack of height. The shot-making in this one will be incredible. Kohlschreiber has been a part of few epics at the Australian Open, and this certainly could turn into one. If this was a night match I would say it’s going five sets, but the two will be playing first up on Hisense in the bright sun. This makes the courts slightly faster and will help Nishikori slightly. I see the German pushing him for a set and a half before folding. Nishikori 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

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