First-round action at the Australian Open continues on Monday with a blockbuster matchup featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini. Adrian Mannarino is going up against former champion Stan Wawrinka.
Matteo Berrettini vs. (7) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas and Berrettini will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers and for the second time at Melbourne Park when they clash in round one of the Australian Open on Monday afternoon. All four of their previous encounters have gone the way of Tsitsipas, who prevailed 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(4) at this tournament in 2019–also in the first round. It has been more than a year since they last faced each other, as Tsitsipas most recently got the job done 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 at the 2023 United Cup. They were also supposed to square off in Melbourne three years ago, but Berrettini withdrew prior to that fourth-round contest due to an abdominal issue.
Injuries have continued to plague the Italian, who played sparingly last year and as a result finds himself at No. 125 in the rankings. He has not played a match since rolling his ankle at the U.S. Open last summer. Tsitsipas has endured physical problems of his own in recent seasons, but he still heads into this fortnight in much better shape than Berrettini. The seventh-ranked Greek generally plays well Down Under, too; he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2023 and has reached the semifinals on three other occasions. Count on Tsitsipas breezing into round two.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3
(20) Adrian Mannarino vs. Stan Wawrinka
Speaking of success in Australia, Wawrinka has enjoyed plenty of it. The 38-year-old lifted the trophy in 2014, has reached the semifinals twice, and has advanced to the quarters two other times. Of course, this is not the same Wawrinka at this point in his career and he has not gotten out of the second round since 2020. The Swiss still registers at a decent 56th in the world, but he was a disappointing 2-7 in his final nine matches last season and has not yet taken the court in 2024.
Up first for Wawrinka is Mannarino, whose current story is much different even though he is always in the latter stages of his of his career at 35 years old. The Frenchman is playing the best tennis of his life, up to No. 20 in the rankings thanks to 43 match victories and three titles in 2023. Mannarino went 1-3 at the United Cup earlier this month, but the competition level was extremely difficult and there is nothing bad about getting four good matches under your belt heading into a Grand Slam. The 20th seed clearly has the edge in this one, but Wawrinka can never be completely counted out in Melbourne.
Pick: Mannarino in 5
WWW?
Shevchenko looks to be the first casualty from overplaying.
Shevchenko takes losses like that all the time
Berrettini withdrew
So do a lot of other players thats why they never make it up the rankings
His Slam record isnt exactly sparkling
Sweeney has a bit of ability. Up from 868 to 225 in the rankings. The future could be bright for him. No shame in losing to Cerundolo – he is tough.
Shevchenko would’ve been better hitting the practice courts when he realized he wasn’t in peak form before the Adelaide International.
Here we go 🙁 Had Handsome beating Tsitsiflake! Most gone for Djok.
In WTA in our small bracket we;ve all gone for Rybakina.
I had Gauff in the final, but changed to Saba last minute
I’ve got Coco there in final, but beaten by Rybarakina.
That’s sensible given her form but last minute changed couldn’t go against Saba
Saba sounded super loud at the end of the match! Only caught the end.
Surprised none of you have gone for Iga given Iga’s form at end of last year. Played amazing at wtf.
is it just me, or is Berrettini always injured?
that didn’t stop Italy winning the Davis Cup mind you.
he is
Hi Amy! I just think Iga is vulnerable to the big hitters, like Ons in fact, unless she’s at the very top of her game.
Lol! watch her win now!
Are you watching, “The Traitors?” BTW?
Hi Margot!!😀 it’s true that Ryba is kind of her kryptonite but she was beating everyone easily at wtf. Caveat about wtf is that the conditions were atrocious…
No I have never seen the Traitors! Should I?
why are these comments not on the WTA article????
Just endured the Cube. Not sure I can get through many more. Everyone is raving about the 18 yr old who played so well against Novak. One to watch for the future…
Just seen 9+ shots won through first 2 sets: Novak 14; Prizmic 18!!!
Eurosport cube not perfect but at least you can watch even the sadd breaks are annoying (as they are on Sky , who not covering the AO)
I much preferred Amazon and Tennistv
Who IS this Prizmic guy??…looks impressive, and too bad that Berretini withdrew…who’s the LL to play against Tsi?
Bergs.
a Challenger guy who is decent. Big on social media.
Djokovic has eased in the the market following the Prizmic match.
Out from 2.08 – 2.16.
Took him 4 hours, though.
don’t fall for it. He will improve.
For sure.
A lot of talk about Kyrgios not playing but commentating instead… apparently joining Eurosport . Looking forward to seeing it
He’s a different person in his commentators suit. Respectful, articulate , no histrionics but its early days.
So’s Johnny Mac.
And Connors .Now butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths
NK is unrecognizable. In the Cube they gave him marks out of 10. The Cube drives me vaguely insane.