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Australian Open Preview – Men’s Singles

Following the glorious debut of the ATP Cup, in which Serbia put on a masterful display to defeat Spain in the finals, it’s time to return to Melbourne for two weeks of beautiful, grand-slam tennis. Sure, it’s been nice to see Rublev run a few tournament wins together in Qatar and Adelaide, but let’s be honest with ourselves and admit we just want to see 128 players vie for the first major of the year. And please god, may there be a new slam winner on the horizon.

Look for an in-depth preview of matches prior to week two, but here are the Tennis Bubble predictions and commentary for the early rounds of #AUSOPEN2020.

Rd. 128

Nadal d. Delien

Sousa d. Delbonis

Eubanks d. Gojowczyk

In the battle of two qualifiers, Eubanks will string together enough big tennis to put together a first-slam win for the American.

Carreno Busta d. Kovalik

Kyrgios d. Sonego

Simon d. Cuevas

Simon, fresh from the off season, will provide a first round upset. Bolder prediction, as 2020 goes on, Simon’s body will wear down and he will announce a 2021 retirement.

Ymer d. Uchiyama

Khachanov d. Vilella Martinez

Monfils d. Lu

Pospisil d. Karlovic

An ugly match with short points, but a better match- up for Pospisil as he’s proven that he can’t beat anyone who plays anything resembling fundamental tennis. Karlovic is too old and one dimensional to win, but really he’s just too damn old.

Duckworth d. Bedene

Auger-Aliassime d. Gulbis

Fritz d. Griekspoor

Anderson d. Ivashka

Bolt d. Ramos-Vinolas

Somewhat of an upset, Bolt will use the home crowd to push him forward. Hopefully he can put together a first- ever healthy season.

Thiem d. Mannarino

Medvedev d. Tiafoe

Koepfer d. Martinez

Munar d. Gaston

Popyrin d. Tsonga

TB likes Popyrin coming out with a big win in round one against the veteran. Call it another home-court advantage victory.

Isner d. Monteiro

Galan d. Tabilo

Kecmanovic d. Seppi

Wawrinka d. Dzumhur

Gaffin d. Chardy

Hughes-Herbert d. Norrie

Sugita d. Benchetrit

Rublev d. O’Connell

Bashilashvili d. Kwon

Verdasco d. Donskoy

Ruud d. Gerasimov

Zverev d. Cecchinato

Berrettini d. Harris

Sandgren d. Trungelliti

Berankis d. Carballes Baena

Coric d. Querrey

Smith d. Pella

Perhaps the biggest upset of the first, JP Smith has been waiting too long to capture his first grand slam victory. He’s been up two sets to love before at Wimbledon, but never crossed the threshold. He will make a deal with the devil to win this one but then ultimately be cursed for life.

Safwat d. Barrere

Bublik d. Thompson

Fognini d. Opelka

Shapovalov d. Fucsovics

Sinner d. Purcell

Paul d. Mayer

Dimitrov d. Londero

Hurkacz d. Novak

Millman d. Humbert

Halys d. Krajinovic

Federer d. Johnson

Tsitsipas d. Caruso

Giron d. Kohlschreiber

Giron’s proven he can play good ball when healthy, and I think that he will be the latest former collegiate athlete to make some strides in the tour.

Garin d. Travaglia

Albot d. Raonic

Paire d. Stebe

Cilic d. Moutet

Mmoh d. Andujar

Maturation matters for Mmoh, who has boundless athleticism and shot making ability. I think he will see more continued success on the ATP Tour in 2020.

Bautista Agut d. Lopez

Schwartzman d. Harris

Davidovich Fokina d. Gombos

Kukushkin d. Polmans

Lajovic d. Edmund

Evans d. McDonald

This will be five sets between two players with very, very similar styles and bodies. Evans pulled out some big wins in the ATP Cup, I like his chances here.

Nishioka d. Djere

Ito d. Gunneswaran

Djokovic d. Struff

Tough first round for Struff who has shown some nice ability on the hard courts. Djokovic just too good.

Rd. 64

Nadal d. Sousa

Carreno Busta d. Eubanks

Kyrgios d. Simon

Khachanov d. Ymer

Monfils d. Lu

Auger-Aliassime d. Gulbis

Fritz d. Anderson

Fritz is on the ascent while Anderson passed his prime. I think this new v. old matchup will go the way of the American

Thiem d. Bolt

Medvedev d. Koepfer

Popyrin d. Munar

Isner d. Galan

Wawrinka d. Kecmanovic

Goffin d. Hughes-Herbert

Rublev d. Sugita

Basilashvili d. Verdasco

Ruud d. Zverev

Berrettini d. Sandgren

Coric d. Berankis

Smith d. Safwat

An easier second round for the veteran Aussie. JP Smith will win his first two rounds of a major at the ripe age of 30. A heroic tale!

Fognini d. Bublik

Shapovalov d. Sinner

Sinner will be a beast for years to come, but the best possible coach for Shapovalov is in his corner. The general will lead Shapovalov to a great tournament.

Dimitrov d. Paul

Millman d. Hurkacz

Federer d. Halys

Tsitsipas d. Giron

Garin d. Albot

Cilic d. Paire

The seeding advantage is misleading, Cilic will grind his way to a straight sets victory over the flashy Frenchman.

Bautista Agut d. Mmoh

Schwartzman d. Davidovich Fokina

Kukushkin d. Lajovic

Nishioka d. Evans

Djokovic d. Ito

Rd. 32

Nadal d. Carreno Busta

Kyrgios d. Khachanov

Kyrgios will play inspired tennis through this first major of the year. More upsets could be ahead…

Auger-Aliassime d. Monfils

It’s a coming out party for Felix!

Thiem d. Fritz

Medvedev d. Popyrin

Wawrinka d. Isner

Rublev d. Goffin

Rublev has Goffin consistency with added punch. This will be a battle that ultimately goes the way of the young Russian.

Basilashvili d. Ruud

Coric d. Berrettini

Fognini d. Smith

Shapovalov d. Dimitrov

Coaching advantage – Shapovalov.

Federer d. Millman

Tsitsipas d. Garin

Cilic d. Bautista Agut

Bautista Agut’s game does not penetrate the court enough to put Cilic off balance. This will indeed be a resurgence for Marin.

Schwartzman d. Kukushkin

Djokovic d. Nishioka

And there you have it, Tennis Bubble’s official first week predictions for Men’s Singles at the 2020 Australian Open. We’ll revisit before the round of 16 begins.

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