Nick Kyrgios will be back in Australian Open action on Wednesday when he goes up against Pablo Cuevas. Gilles Simon and Evgeny Donskoy are also aiming for a place in the third round.
(29) Nick Kyrgios vs. Pablo Cuevas
Just two seasons into his Australian Open career, Kyrgios is no stranger to drama at his home Grand Slam. In 2014, he lost to Benoit Paire in a five-set thriller despite taking the first two sets. Last season, Kyrgios made a memorable run to the quarterfinals, winning five-setters at the expense of Federico Delbonis and Andreas Seppi before falling to Andy Murray. The 20-year-old endured no such suspense in his 2016 opener against Pablo Carreno Busta on Monday night. Kyrgios blasted 16 aces without double-faulting en route to a 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 victory over the Spaniard.
Up next for the world No. 30 is a first-ever meeting with Cuevas. The 41st-ranked Uruguayan advanced through round one with a 7-6(5), 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Yoshihito Nishioka. Cuevas is now 2-1 on the season, having previously reached the Sydney second round (lost to eventual runner-up Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(2), 6-4). This would be interesting on clay, but a hard court in Australia is the worst possible setting in which Cuevas could face Kyrgios. The 29th seed should not have too much trouble hitting his opponent clean off the court.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
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Evgeny Donskoy vs. (14) Gilles Simon
Simon and Donskoy will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Wednesday. Donskoy will gain ranking points regardless of his second-round result because he did not even get through one qualifying match in 2015. But the 91st-ranked Russian boosted his ranking enough to gain direct entry this time around thanks in part to consistent Challenger success in 2015 and a second-round U.S. Open performance as a qualifier. Donskoy opened on Monday with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Inigo Cervantes.
Also requiring four sets in round one, Simon overcame Vasek Pospisil 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The 15th-ranked Frenchman appears to be bouncing back nicely from dropping his Sydney opener to Dimitrov in straight sets. Simon reached the quarterfinals of this tournament in 2009 and made it to the fourth round in 2013. This will be entertaining baseline battle between Donskoy’s whip forehand and Simon’s consistency. The advantage should go to the favorite, who will ultimately force his opponent to hit too many shots and go for too much at inopportune moments.
Pick: Simon in 4
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NK in 3 and Simon in 4
impressive pick = Renzo Olivo, Benny!
Delbonis over Olivo?
Yes, I got that one wrong. Also Karlovic retiring. I thought Karlovic would go further here.
That’s why you just never know with these early rounds.
Thanks lol. Had a hunch there.
tossup
Team Nick! voted 4 sets. He better make it 3.
Simon in 3 or more likely 4.
Kyrgios in 3 sets.
Simon in 4 sets.
Done
Voting Kudla in four
Me too!
Thiem in four
Rubin in four. Gotta gut feeling here though a win for P2H wouldn’t surprise me too much but I feel like Rubin’s got more mental strength and will grind it out in four tough sets.
Done
Roger in three losing twelve games or fewer.
Fed in 3 losing 12 games or fewer
Thiem is my bracket pick but didn’t expect Nico to win the 1st round. Best SHBH of the day wins.
Seppi in 4.
Have to vote Rubin 😀 Go Noah!
Kyrgios and Simon in straight sets.
and Finally a winnable 1st round match for Harrison against Kuznetsov.
Naturally Ryan lost in straights though.
Expected
I was watching Muguruza vs Kontaveit but soon realized that this was going to be one sided so I switched to Keys vs Diyas. Diyas had 3 set points Keys saved all 3 and now Keys has a break point she converts on the 2nd bp and we are back on serve.
Anett got a game 2nd set 🙂
They are showing Keys on the tennis channel now.
I have Directv, Nny – with a sports pkg. and have AO coverage for 7 matches on right now. Watching Raonic v Pouille. Milos is in great form. He’s on a roll, up 2 sets on Lucas Pouille, taking no prisoners. Think I’ll switch back to Keys’ match.
ratcliff,
Lucky you! I think there is a tennis channel plus package, but I didn’t sign up for it.
They switched over to the last of Raonic’s match. Then they went back to Keys.
When it Rafa playing? ESPN2 is coming on with coverage at 9:00 pm.
Gulbis was a break up against Chardy but Chardy has broken back.
Lucic vs Flipkens Lucic was serving for the set but Flipkens breaks back.
Gulbis had a game point to make it 6-6 but Chardy wins 3 points in a row to break and takes the set 7-5.
Muller takes the first set against Fognini.
arrgh! Fabio.
Good first set Keys vs Diyas. Keys wins the set in a tiebreak, entertaining stuff Keys saved 3 set points when Diyas was serving for the set.
Gulbis again a break up in 2nd set.
haha … Gulbis might have the 2nd set if he can hold serve!
Gulbis 4-2
Gulbis breaks for 5-2 he will now serve to make it 1 set all.
set to Gulbis.