The underside half of the Australian Open draw has produced loads of surprises, however Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are thus far unscathed. They are going to face Miomir Kecmanovic and Cameron Norrie, respectively, within the fourth spherical on Monday.
Miomir Kecmanovic vs. (2) Carlos Alcaraz
It will likely be a rematch of certainly one of 2022’s finest matches when Alcaraz and Kecmanovic collide for the second time of their careers in spherical 4 of the Australian Open on Monday. Their earlier encounter was in prompt basic, with Alcaraz successful 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(5) two years in the past on the Miami Masters. Kecmanovic has by no means performed higher than he did in that contest, but when can he can recapture that type wherever it’s in Melbourne. The Sixtieth-ranked Serb reached the fourth spherical in 2022–his finest slam outcome–when he assumed Novak Djokovic’s place on the prime of the draw after Djokovic was banned from competing. He’s again within the final 16 two years later following victories over Yosuke Watanuki, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Tommy Paul. Kecmanovic wanted two very totally different fifth units to outlive–a tiebreaker in opposition to Stuff and a 6-0 bagel of Paul.
Alcaraz, however, will likely be extraordinarily properly rested. The second-ranked Spaniard wanted 4 tight units to get previous Lorenzo Sonego in spherical two, however he preceded that with a straight-set beatdown of Richard Gasquet and adopted it up by getting a retirement from Jerry Shang whereas cruising 6-1, 6-1, 1-0. Anticipate an entertaining battle within the early phases earlier than Alcaraz takes management in opposition to a fatigued and easily overmatched opponent.
Choose: Alcaraz in 3
(6) Alexander Zverev vs. (19) Cameron Norrie
Each Zverev and Norrie are on their second lives in Melbourne. In truth, they had been on life assist at just about the very same time throughout an epic day of second-round motion on Thursday. Zverev outlasted Lukas Klein 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(10-7), whereas Norrie fended off the upset bid of Giulio Zeppieri 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Norrie performed a lot better in a four-set win over Casper Ruud on Saturday, however even at that stage he will likely be hard-pressed to beat Zverev. The Twenty second-ranked Brit is 0-4 lifetime within the head-to-head matchup and 0-8 in complete units. Zverev additionally picked up the tempo in his third-round contest, erasing Alex Michelsen 6-2, 7(4), 6-2, so his confidence is again heading into week two. One other principally routine win ought to be in retailer for the seventh-ranked German.
Choose: Zverev in 3