In the ATP Australian Open, set to take place on January 21, 2026, the matchups in the 1/32-finals promise exciting action as several players compete for advancement.
First up is Jaime Faria facing off against Andrey Rublev in their inaugural meeting. Faria has shown impressive form, winning four of his last five matches, and successfully qualified for the main draw in Melbourne by securing victories in all three qualifying rounds in straight sets. In the opening round, he defeated his opponent Blockx in four sets. Rublev, on the other hand, has also won four of his last five matches and showcased his skills by defeating Arnaldi in straight sets during the first round. Rublev has a strong history at the Australian Open, having reached the quarterfinals three times previously, although he faced disappointment last year with a first-round exit.
Bookmakers favor Rublev in this matchup, and with good reason. His experience and past performances at Melbourne, combined with Faria’s lack of Grand Slam experience, suggest that Rublev could dominate this encounter. For those looking to place bets, a solid option would be Rublev covering a -6.5 games handicap at odds of 1.83.
Another compelling match features Tomas Martin Etcheverry taking on Arthur Fery, both players facing each other for the first time. Etcheverry has claimed three of his last five matches but faced a first-round exit in Auckland last week. In his opener in Melbourne, he triumphed over Kecmanovic in a grueling five-set battle. Fery, meanwhile, qualified for the main draw without dropping a set and showcased his resilience during his opening round win against Cobolli in straight sets.
While bookmakers list Fery as a slight underdog, there’s a belief that he can hold his own given his recent performances. A prudent wager might be Fery covering a +3.5 games handicap, also at odds of 1.83.
The third match to watch is between Daniil Medvedev and Quentin Halys. Medvedev is riding a six-match winning streak, recently defeating de Jong in straight sets. Last year, he experienced an upset at the Australian Open when he lost to Tien in a tight second-round match. Halys has won four of his last five matches, including a straight-sets victory over Tabilo in the opening round.
With a head-to-head record favoring Medvedev at 2-0, he is the favored player in this encounter as well. Given Halys’s prior challenge, Medvedev is expected to secure a comfortable win, making him an appealing option for betting on a -6.5 games handicap at odds of 1.83.
As the tournament progresses, these matches only add to the excitement surrounding the Australian Open, with players striving for success on one of the sport’s biggest stages.