Australian Open, the first round is completed: the last two Italian nationals, Sonego and Zeppieri, are also ready to debut. News and predictions.
Two Italians in the field on the day that sends the first round of the Australian Open 2024 into the archives. The goal, needless to say, is to make en plein, with Italians Lorenzo Sonego and Giulio Zeppieri dreaming of emulating compatriots Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi, all four of whom have already qualified for the second round.
Turin wasn’t kissed by Lady Luck, who in his debut will have to face Englishman Dan Evans, number 38 in the world and with a wealth of experience on his hands. It is normal that the one between him and Sonego will become one of the most passionate and potentially balanced challenges of this first round. Evans is discontinuous like the Italian but if on a good day he becomes a tough nut to crack: however, we give confidence to Sonego, who in the two previous matches – the last one staged last March in Miami – has always got the better of the Briton, who is also back from an injury. Zeppieri, on the other hand, is hunting for a feat, engaged against another seasoned tennis player like Dusan Lajovic. The Serb is no longer the one of a few years ago, although last August in Cincinnati he was able to take the scalp of Sinner, fresh from his triumph in Toronto. For Zeppieri this is his debut in the main draw in Melbourne, after having passed the qualifiers. The Roman does not start as a favorite but might be able to snatch at least a set from the Belgrade native.
Everything easy for Rune?
There should be no surprises in the challenge between world No. 8 Holger Rune, who has appeared to be on the upswing in recent weeks despite his Brisbane tournament loss to Dimitrov: Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka is likely to surrender in just three sets.
After his triumph seven days ago Grigor Dimitrov is bidding for an outsider role in this Australian Open. The experienced Bulgarian tennis player, however, has never excelled in continuity: he is favored against Marton Fucsovics, but the solid Hungarian will not roll out the infamous red carpet in front of him. The match between Austrian Sebastian Ofner and Thanasi Kokkinakis, one of the idols of the home crowd, is anything but a foregone conclusion. The Australian is not in a great moment-he comes from three defeats in a row-but the Melbourne air (where two years ago he triumphed in doubles with his friend Kyrgios) could do him good. Balance is expected in the Anglo-American match between Marcos Giron and Jack Draper, while Russian Roman Safiullin, who has grown a lot in the last period, is expected to edge out Dutchman Griekspoor. The surprise of the night could be Chinese Shang’s assertion over American McDonald, who has been struggling for the past few months.
Australian Open, the possible winners
Safiullin in Safiullin-Griekspoor.
Rune in Rune-Nishioka (in 3 sets)
Shang in McDonald-Shang
Sonego in Evans-Sonego
Kokkinakis in Ofner-Kokkinakis
US Open, matches by at least four sets
Lajovic-Zeppieri.
Dimitrov-Fucsovics
Giron-Draper
Evans-Sonego