Things are heating up in round three at the Australian Open. Young gun Carlos Alacaraz will meet Matteo Berrettini in a match that could be a legitimate blockbuster. Promising American Sebastian Korda faces Spanish veteran Pablo Carreno Busta.
(7) Matteo Berrettini vs. (31) Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz is on a mission. The young Spaniard wrapped up his 2021 season with a win at the Next Gen ATP Finals over Sebastian Korda. He came into the 2022 season sporting a set of Nadal-like biceps and so far a pair of easy straight-set wins to earn his spot opposite Berrettini. He appears to have worked on his serve during the offseason, as it seems to be more effective than it has been previously.
Berrettini had a monster year in 2021. The Italian won Queen’s Club and made the final at Wimbledon. He hasn’t the best start to the 2022 season, however. He used the ATP Cup to warm up for the Australian Open, but he lost 2 of his 3 matches. His first two matches this week were 4-set affairs, with Americans Brandon Nakashima and Stefan Kozlov taking a set a piece.
If Berrettini is going to get past Alcaraz, he will have to play much better than he has been so far this season. Alcaraz has been ruthlessly efficient through two rounds and he’s wearing confidence like Roger Federer wears a tuxedo; it’s like he was born with it.
Cheryl pick: Alcaraz in 4
Ricky pick: Alcaraz in 5
Sebastian Korda vs. (19) Pablo Carreno Busta
This will be the first meeting between Korda and Carreno Busta. Both men come into this third-round match off tough 5-setters. Carreno Busta spent 4 hours and 10 minutes on court against Tallon Griekspoor, while Korda spent 4 hours and 47 minutes getting past Corentin Moutet.
Korda is one of the more promising American players to come along in a while. He won his first title last year and he sits at world No. 43 in the world at the moment. Like Alcaraz, he closed out his season with a run to the final match at the NextGen ATP Finals.
Carreno Busta is a solid 6-1 for the 2022 season so far, but the Spaniard’s only match against a top player was also his only loss. He went down in the final of the ATP Cup to Denis Shapovalov. Carreno Busta played well against a red-hot Griekspoor in the second round despite being taken to 5 sets. He will be well-positioned to perform well on Friday.
Cheryl pick: Carreno Busta in 5
Ricky pick: Carreno Busta in 4
I watched Korda, first round amazing match with Norrie, second round awful with Moutet, he should lose this match in 4 sets, later he can’t break Moutet with meltdown in 5 set. He had 67 winners to 92 UE (!) and faced 23 BP. I think that PCB should take this if Korda wont play like in first round.
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