Sydney R1 previews and predictions: Thompson vs. Kokkinakis, Muller vs. Dolgopolov

Friends and fellow Aussies Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis have to face each other in the Sydney first round on Tuesday. Gilles Muller and Alexandr Dolgopolov are also set for an intriguing opener.

(WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis vs. (WC) Jordan Thompson

It will be a battle between Brisbane doubles champions when Thompson and Kokkinakis take the court at the Apia International on Tuesday. Kokkinakis did not feel ready for singles in just his second tournament since 2015, but he and his fellow Aussie went on a surprising run to the doubles title last week. After a breakout 2015 campaign on the ATP Tour, a shoulder injury kept Kokkinakis sidelined for almost all of 2016. The 20-year-old Australian played only at the Rio Olympics, where he lost right away to Gastao Elias in a pair of tiebreakers.

Thompson, meanwhile, climbed to No. 79 in the world thanks to a stellar 2016 season and he currently registers at a career-high ranking of 75th. The 22-year-old Aussie is coming off a quarterfinal performance in Brisbane, where he ousted Elias Ymer and David Ferrer before getting blown out by Kei Nishikori. In Kokkinakis’ second singles match since October of 2015, an in-form Thompson should have the advantage.

Pick: Thompson in 3

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(6) Gilles Muller vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov

Speaking of injury-plagued competitors, Dolgopolov did not play at all during the fall of 2016 following the U.S. Open. The Ukrainian dealt with a back problem and still has not won a single match since the Washington, D.C. event in mid-July. Dolgopolov got a dreadful draw in his comeback to tennis, losing to none other than Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3 in the Brisbane first round.

Up first for the world No. 63 in Sydney is a second career meeting with Muller. The head-to-head series is tied up at one win apiece, with Dolgopolov having cruised 6-4, 6-4 on the indoor hard courts of Valencia in 2012 before Muller prevailed 6-3, 6-4 last summer on the grass of Nottingham. The 34th-ranked Luxembourgian played mostly stellar tennis during the second half of 2016, but he saw his hopes of an Australian Open seed go out the window with an opening 6-4, 6-4 loss to Jared Donaldson in Brisbane. Still, Muller should have more than enough to take advantage of a rusty opponent.

Pick: Muller in 2

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