The Australian Open continues to heat up as the third round approaches, drawing attention to two intriguing matchups in the men’s draw featuring Taylor Fritz against Stan Wawrinka, and Lorenzo Musetti squaring off with Tomas Machac.
In the matchup between Fritz and Wawrinka, American Taylor Fritz is a strong favorite, with odds set at -900, while Wawrinka sits at +610. The spread favors Fritz at -6.5, with an over/under of 34.5. Fritz has emerged as a formidable player in the last two years, boasting a career-high ranking of fourth as of 2024 and impressive performances in Grand Slam events, including a final appearance at the US Open.
Facing Fritz is Wawrinka, the former Australian Open champion, who, despite no longer competing at the peak of his career, still embodies the potential for greatness, having captured three major titles between 2014 and 2016 during a fiercely competitive era. His renowned backhand poses a significant challenge, but Fritz’s superior serve and mobility are likely to give him the edge in this encounter.
Currently, Fritz is coming off a strong showing in the second round, where he dispatched Vit Kopriva without dropping a set. Conversely, Wawrinka has encountered tougher matches, fighting through both four and five-set struggles in the earlier rounds. This context suggests that Fritz is poised to advance, with a prediction of winning in three or four sets while covering the spread.
On the other side of the draw, Lorenzo Musetti meets Tomas Machac. Musetti is favored at -162, while Machac’s odds stand at +127. The spread indicates a slight edge for Musetti at -2.5, and an over/under of 38.5 is anticipated for this contest. Musetti, currently in the top 10 and fresh off a commanding win over Lorenzo Sonego, demonstrates a solid form. However, he did drop a set in his opening round, showcasing that he can be vulnerable.
Machac, on a remarkable run following a title victory in Adelaide, has built solid momentum with victories over notable opponents like Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas, albeit in closely contested matches. Given both players’ abilities to challenge each other’s service games, this match promises to be a battle. Expectations lean toward a high number of breaks as both excel in return scenarios, leading to a prediction of over 5.5 breaks throughout the match.
The third round of the Australian Open is shaping up to be a thrilling segment of the tournament, with Fritz and Musetti tipped for strong performances against their respective opponents, setting the stage for exciting tennis ahead.