Andy Murray might be again on the court docket after profitable a five-set thriller within the first spherical, as he faces Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Australian Open second-round schedule additionally features a showdown between Andrey Rublev and Emil Ruusuvuori.
Listed here are my previews and picks for the 2 matchups.
Andy Murray vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis
Murray vs. Matteo Berrettini was the marquee matchup of your entire Australian Open first spherical, and it definitely delivered. The 35-year-old Scot saved a match level at 4-5 within the fifth set earlier than outlasting Berrettini 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(10-6) in 4 hours and 49 minutes of play on Tuesday.
Murray’s reward is one other show-court appointment (this time in Margaret Courtroom Enviornment as a substitute of Rod Laver) towards one of many host nation’s prime hopes. Kokkinakis is coming off a semifinal exhibiting on the second Adelaide occasion–which he gained in 2022–and the 26-year-old Aussie annihilated Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 to start this fortnight in fashion. Who ought to win on Thursday night time? Arguably Murray–and he most likely would in a best-of-three state of affairs. However the three-time Grand Slam champion can’t be trusted to go deep in majors at this level in his profession and a grueling five-setter two days earlier is way from supreme preparation. A assured Kokkinakis is taking part in effectively sufficient to capitalize.
Decide: Kokkinakis in 5
(5) Andrey Rublev vs. Emil Ruusuvuori
Rublev and Ruusuvuori might be going head-to-head for the second time of their careers on Thursday afternoon. Their solely earlier encounter got here two years in the past on the laborious courts of Dubai, the place Rublev cruised 6-4, 6-4.
All indicators level towards this being one other routine day on the workplace for the Russian. He destroyed Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday, whereas a lot of Ruusuvuori’s opener was pushed again to Wednesday–when he completed off Max Purcell 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11) after a complete of three hours and 41 minutes. The 23-year-old Finn has by no means superior to the third spherical of a significant, whereas Rublev has reached no less than the third spherical in 10 if his final 11 slam appearances. This shouldn’t be aggressive in any respect.
Decide: Rublev in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
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