Novak Djokovic has another intriguing matchup on his hands, this time against Denis Shapovalov during third-round Australian Open action. Milos Raonic and Pierre-Hugues Herbert are also part of Saturday’s schedule.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (25) Denis Shapovalov
Djokovic made mostly routine work of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Australian Open second round and his reward is another marquee matchup with Shapovalov on Saturday. Although Tsonga and Shapovalov are big names, neither was or is expected to give Djokovic serious trouble. After all, the world No. 1 has been by far the best player on tour dating back to last summer and he is also a six-time champion in Melbourne. Favored to lift a seventh trophy Down Under, Djokovic preceded his 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Tsonga with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 rout of qualifier Mitchell Krueger.
Shapovalov has advanced by taking out Pablo Andujar and Taro Daniel in straight sets, needing only one tiebreaker on each occasion to get the job done. The 19-year-old Canadian, who began his season with a first-round Auckland loss to Joao Sousa, has been to the second week of a slam only once (2017 U.S. Open) and that came via a third-round retirement (from Kyle Edmund). A first-ever meeting with Djokovic is not what the doctor ordered for Shapovalov to get back to the last 16 of a major.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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Pierre-Hugues Herbert vs. (16) Milos Raonic
Arguably in terms of quality and definitely in terms of competition level, Raonic was the best player through two rounds of Australian Open action. The 17th-ranked Canadian delivered a ridiculous serving display (73 percent, 52 of 58 first-serve points won, 30 aces, one double-fault) to beat Nick Kyrgios 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-4 and he battled past Stan Wawrinka 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 7-6(11), 7-6(5) on Thursday.
Raonic’s reward is what looks like a reprieve from the draw, as the unseeded Herbert emerged from a section that included a struggling Hyeon Chung–a 2018 Australian Open semifinalist. The 55th-ranked Frenchman disposed of Chung 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 after getting the best of Sam Querrey 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-1. Often considered a doubles specialist, an in-form Herbert kicked off his 2019 campaign with a quarterfinal performance in Doha. But Tomas Berdych destroyed him at that point and a red-hot Raonic is the kind of player who can inflict similar damage.
Pick: Raonic in 3
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Raonic in 3.
Djokovic in 4 although I am really hoping I am wrong and Shapovalov somehow manages an upset
WYG?
Djokovic in 3 and Raonic in 4.
Djokovic in 3 sets, maybe with a TB in the 1st.
Herbert in 4, with at least 2 TB.
Djoker in 4, Raonic in 3
Shapo really needs lots of improvements. I do feel he’s a bit reckless, tends to go for broke, should learn from Tsitsipas, be a bit more patient, and waits for the right time to attack.
I feel he needs to learn how to hit with precision, especially concentrates on hitting the corners with precision. Shapo hitting right into the middle of the court will only give Djoko the chance to redirect the ball to wherever he wants; Shapo’s ROS has plenty of room for improvements.