Brisbane R2 previews and predictions: Wawrinka vs. Troicki, Pouille vs. Edmund

Stan Wawrinka will get his 2017 season underway when he takes the court against Viktor Troicki on Wednesday in Brisbane. Lucas Pouille and Kyle Edmund are also aiming for a place in the quarterfinals.

Viktor Troicki vs. (2) Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka and Troicki will be going head-to-head for the seventh time in their careers when they clash in round two of the Brisbane International on Wednesday. All six of their previous meetings have gone Wawrinka’s way, including most recently via a 7-5, 6-2 decision last fall in St. Petersburg. They also faced each other at Roland Garros in the spring of 2016, when the Swiss prevailed 7-6(5), 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-2. Their only previous outdoor hard-court encounter has come at the 2015 Shanghai Masters, where Wawrinka got the job done 7-6(3), 6-3.

The world No. 4 is coming off a stellar 2016 campaign in which he won the U.S. Open and appeared in the World Tour Finals for a fourth straight year. Wawrinka earned a first-round bye this week as the No. 2 seed, whereas Troicki won his opening match on Tuesday in straight sets over Yoshihito Nishioka. The 29th-ranked Serb, who went a decent 34-29 last season, reached the second round of this event in 2016 before falling to Grigor Dimitrov in three sets. Troicki’s stay this time around will likely come to an end on Wednesday, although Wawrinka was unpredictable at best throughout the recent fall swing.

Pick: Wawrinka in 2

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(6) Lucas Pouille vs. Kyle Edmund

Looking to build on a breakout 2016 season, Pouille almost saw this year get off to a rough start on Tuesday in Brisbane. The 15th-ranked Frenchman appeared to be on his way to a quick exit from this tournament when he trailed compatriot Gilles Simon 5-0 in the first set, but he stormed back for a 7-6(6), 7-6(4) victory. Pouille reached the quarterfinals of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last summer before capturing his first career ATP title on the indoor hard courts of Metz.

Up next for the 22-year-old on Wednesday is Edmund, whom he has never faced. Edmund booked his spot in the last 16 by beating qualifier Ernesto Escobedo 7-6(4), 7-6(6) on Monday. The 21-year-old Brit climbed to No. 45 in the world last season thanks in part to a fourth-round performance at the U.S. Open. While both players are clearly on the rise, Edmund’s development has not reached the heights at which Pouille currently registers.

Pick: Pouille in 2

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