Tommy Paul made it to the Australian Open semifinals last year, so he is extremely confident Down Under. His quest to make it that far–or even better–is off to a good start with victories over Gregoire Barrere and Jack Draper, dropping just one set in the process. Paul’s win over Draper avenge a loss last week to the Brit in the Adelaide quarterfinals.
Up next for Paul in the third round on Saturday is Miomir Kecmanovic, who will have to rebound from a five-setter against Jan-Lennard Struff (the Serb prevailed 11-9 in the decisive tiebreaker).
Kecmanovic leads the head-to-head series 2-1, but Paul won their most recent meeting 7-5, 7-6(2) last summer in Cincinnati. The 14th-ranked American should once again have the edge given his history of success in Melbourne and Kecmanovic’s possible fatigue.
Pick: Paul in 4
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