Andrey Rublev will battle dangerous teen Holger Rune for a spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals, while American Tommy Paul takes on Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round on Monday.
(5) Andrey Rublev vs. (9) Holger Rune
Danish teenager Holger Rune burst onto the scene midway through the season in 2022. He was ranked 70th in the world in April of last year and by May 1 he captured his first career title in Munich. In the fall he started a shocking run of success, when he made four finals on the trot and won two more titles– including the Paris Masters, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final. He is 19 years old and currently ranked No. 10. Rune earned his spot in the fourth round with straight-set wins over Filip Krajinovic, Maxime Cressy, and Ugo Humbert.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev is the No. 6 player in the world. While Rublev did not have quite as noteworthy a 2022 run as Rune, he still had a good year with four titles. His Grand Slam results were slightly disappointing, as he failed to make it past the quarterfinals (he wasn’t permitted to play Wimbledon owing to the Russian player ban). Rublev dropped a set to Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round but his wins over Dominic Thiem and Dan Evans were straight-set affairs.
This has the makings of a great match. Rune is locked and loaded and Rublev is playing well enough to give the Dane a run for his money.
Cheryl pick: Rune in 5
Ricky pick: Rune in 5
(24) Roberto Bautista Agut vs. Tommy Paul
This bottom section of the draw–Casper Ruud’s quarter–is wide open. Roberto Bautista Agut played a depleted Andy Murray to earn his round of 16 spot. He looked a little shaky against Brandon Holt in the second round but eventually closed out the young American in five sets. Bautista Agut came into the Australian Open off a run to the final of the second Adelaide event, where he lost to Soonwoo Kwon.
American Tommy Paul has a career-long history of underperforming at majors. He looks great this week so far, though, so he might be poised to change that trend. Paul had a tricky draw en route to the fourth round. He faced qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff and then had an epic five-set battle with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. His most impressive win so far this fortnight was a straight-set rout of Jenson Brooksby.
This could be another long match in the books in Melbourne. Both men are in good form and Bautista Agut is a supremely fit athlete who is always prepared to go the distance.
Cheryl pick: Bautista Agut in 4
Ricky pick: Bautista Agut in 5
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