Fellow Aussies Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex de Minaur will try to put on another show in front of the home crowd during second-round action on Thursday. Kokkinakis is a big underdog against Stefanos Tsitsipas, while de Minaur will like his chances against Pablo Cuevas.
(5) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. (WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis
Whatever happens on Thursday afternoon, the 2021 Australian Open has to be considered a smashing success for Kokkinakis. The 24-year-old Australian did not play at all in 2020, so he had not won a match on the main tour since the 2019 U.S. Open. Kokkinakis also missed much of 2016, 2017, and 2018. At long last, though, he is healthy–at least temporarily. The world No. 267 deservedly got a wild card into the Aussie Open and started to make the most of it by beating Soonwoo Kwon 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 on Tuesday.
Of course, Tsitsipas is a whole different beast. The sixth-ranked Greek is a former semifinalist of the Australian Open (2019) and French Open (2020) in addition to being a Nitto ATP Finals champion (2019). He opened this fortnight in style by making quick 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 work of Gilles Simon. Given Tsitsipas’ form and the fact that you never know if Kokkinakis’ body can get through two best-of-five matches, you have to think this will be one-way traffic after perhaps a competitive first set.
Pick: Tsitsipas in 3
Pablo Cuevas vs. (21) Alex de Minaur
De Minaur and Cuevas will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Thursday night. Although de Minaur’s history of physical problems is nowhere near that of Kokkinakis, he missed last year’s Australian Open after being hit by injury right when he was in red-hot form. Although the world No. 23 is not quite as on fire now following a mediocre 2020 campaign, he has more than enough talent to make a run at a slam–especially in front of the home crowd. De Minaur got off to a great start in that effort by hammering two-time Aussie quarterfinalist Tennys Sandgren 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 on Tuesday.
Cuevas was one of the social-media stars of quarantine, and now he is doing some solid work on the court as well. He emerged from two weeks off and promptly advanced two rounds at the Great Ocean Road Open and on Tuesday he took care of Seppi in straight sets. However, in his entire 17-year career the 72nd-ranked Uruguayan has never advanced past the second round of a hard-court major. It’s hard to imagine doing so at de Minaur’s expense.
Pick: De Minaur in 3
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Tsitsipas has had 20 break point opportunities and only converted 4. He must be going nuts.
The Aussies really annoy me, most of their motivation comes from trying to prove a point and spoiling the other players party.
and that’s where it ends for them. They rarely show any substance when it matters.
I’m an Australian citizen so I’m allowed to be critical.
Kokkanakis has 0 from 3 and we’re in a tight 5th set. The crowd unfortunately plays a big part in these matches.
Congrats to Tsitsipas, a hard fight but gets the victory in the end,