Ninth seed Taylor Fritz is set to face unseeded Vit Kopriva in the second round of the 2026 Australian Open taking place in Melbourne. Fritz made an impressive start to the tournament, securing a four-set victory against Valentin Royer. Conversely, Kopriva arrives at this match after a grueling five-set encounter with Jan-Lennard Struff, which may have left him fatigued and could impact his performance.
Fritz, currently ranked world No. 9, has enjoyed a successful 2025 season, capturing titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne, reaching the finals in Tokyo, and making significant progress in various majors and Masters events. His serve is a key asset, having recorded 867 aces in 2025 and winning 79% of first serve points, showcasing his dominance on hard courts. Although his return statistics aren’t extraordinary, with a 26% success rate on first serve returns, his serving power consistently applies pressure on opponents.
Kopriva, ranked No. 101 (which is a career-high No. 78 achieved in June 2025), is celebrating his best-ever performance in Melbourne. His journey in 2025 has primarily involved Challenger events, and while he has shown potential, evidenced by a quarterfinal in Marrakech, his ATP-level capabilities remain somewhat uncertain. This season, he achieved a 67% win rate on first serve points and totaled 89 aces—far less than what is typically needed to challenge a top contender like Fritz effectively.
The odds reflect Fritz’s substantial advantage heading into this matchup. Given his consistent performance and the statistical challenges Kopriva faces, the best bet appears to be on Fritz winning in straight sets, with odds of -145 at FanDuel. While Kopriva can return serves respectably with a 28% first serve return success rate, he would still be under considerable pressure throughout the match due to Fritz’s serving prowess.
Fritz has demonstrated solid form leading into this match, including reaching the finals in Tokyo and competing well at the Shanghai and Paris Masters. Comparatively, Kopriva’s recent performances in lower-tier events highlight the disparity in their current levels of play.
As they prepare to meet, the match will take place at John Cain Arena on January 22, 2026, starting not before 6:10 PM AEDT. Tennis fans interested in viewing the match can catch it on ESPN and ESPN2 in the United States, TNT Sports in the UK, and various other networks globally. For streaming options, subscribers can access coverage through platforms like ESPN+ in the USA, Discovery+ in the UK and Europe, Stan Sport in Australia, and Tennis TV worldwide.
With the expectations set, Fritz’s match against Kopriva presents an opportunity for the American to leverage his skills against an opponent still working to establish himself at the highest levels of tennis.