After a thrilling opening two days of Australian Open tennis, the action heats up in the 2nd round of both the women’s and men’s fixtures.
Rafael Nadal vs. Mackenzie McDonald
Rod Laver Arena (Day)
The defending champion will take to Rod Laver Arena for a 2nd round clash against American World No. 63 Mackenzie McDonald.
Nadal entered the tournament with a fitness cloud hanging over his head, but it mattered little as he dispatched Britain’s Jack Draper in four sets, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Nadal is currently $11 and is the third favourite for the title behind Novak Djokovic ($1.90) and Daniil Medvedev ($5).
McDonald has been knocked out of the AO in the 2nd round three times from his five attempts but equalled his best result in a grand slam when he progressed to the 4th round in 2021.
Suggested Bet: Nadal to win 3-0 at $1.62
Iga Swiatek vs. Camila Osorio
Rod Laver Arena (Day)
Iga Swiatek certainly didn’t have it all her own way in her 1st round match on Monday, defeating Germany’s Jule Niemeier 6-4, 7-5 in under two hours.
The World No. 1 has never relied on her serving as the key to overpowering her opponents, but she needed to catch up with just 49% of her first serves falling in. After being a set and a breakdown to Niemeier in last year’s US Open before going on to win the title, this clash could serve as the sharpener she needs ahead of the next ten days of action.
Osorio didn’t have as much of a challenge in her 1st round as she ended Panna Udvardy’s campaign with a 6-4, 6-1 victory.
The Colombian World No. 82 has only ever progressed to the 3rd round of a major once – at Wimbledon in 2021.
Suggested Bet: Swiatek to win 2-0 at $1.17
Emma Raducanu vs. Coco Gauff
Rod Laver Arena (Night)
Potentially the most intriguing match-up on the women’s side, 2021 US Open champion, Emma Raducanu, will face Coco Gauff on Night 3 at Rod Laver Arena.
The 1st round posed few issues for both women as they each cruised through in straight sets and less than 90 minutes of play.
Gauff, who is $13 to win the title, made light work of the Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova, defeating her 6-1, 6-4 on the back of a 70% first serve percentage and three times as many winners (24-8).
Raducanu defeated Tamara Korpatsch (Germany) with just as much class, delivering 27 winners to 10 en route to a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
The British star hasn’t passed the 2nd round of a grand slam since her US Open success and will find it difficult to break that run against the World No. 7.
Suggested Bet: C. Gauff to win 2-1 at $3.80
John Millman vs. Daniil Medvedev
Margaret Court Arena (Night)
John Millman headlines a triple treat of Australian Men’s action on Night 3 as he takes on last year’s finalist and World No. 8, Daniil Medvedev.
While Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata will fly the flag on John Cain and Rod Laver Arena, respectively, Millman will look to fire up the Aussie crowd in a similar fashion to his 1st round victory over Marc-Andrea Huesler.
Trailing two sets to one after being on the wrong side of two challenging tiebreakers, Millman rallied and dropped just five games in the final two sets.
Medvedev was on a mission in his opening round match-up against Marcos Giron, driving home 29 winners in a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 victory.
The Russian has arrived in Australia with a point to prove after losing the final two years in a row.
Suggested Bet: J. Millman & R. Hijikata to win 2+ sets combined at $5
