The 6-time champion is in action

Predicted Winners in BOLD

ROD LAVER ARENA

[9] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Florian Mayer (GER) – This is not an ideal draw for Rafa, but I think he can grind Mayer down if this develops into a 4 or 5 set match.

[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) – I think the 3 of 5 set format is in Novak’s favor much like Rafa’s.  If this gets close, Novak likely wins.  Novak could also win in 3.

MARGARET COURT ARENA

[3] Milos Raonic (CAN) vs Dustin Brown (GER) – I would not expect a lot of long baseline exchanges, but this should be a fun match.

[15] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs. [WC] Christopher O’Connell (AUS) – Dimitov needs to cash in his momentum.  

HISENSE ARENA

[24] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. Robin Haase (NED) – This is the type of match Zverev should win routinely as he progresses.

[21] David Ferrer (ESP) vs [WC] Omar Jasika (AUS) – Ferrer still has some life in his game. 

SHOW COURT 2

[11] David Goffin (BEL) vs [Q] Reilly Opelka (USA) – David Goffin’s game is sneaky good most of the time.

Joao Sousa (POR) vs Jordan Thompson (AUS)

SHOW COURT 3

[8] Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs. Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) – How will Thiem build on his big 2016?  A strong Aussie Open would be a good way to start.

[6] Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. Jiri Vesely (CZE) – This could go 4, but I like Gael to win.

COURT 5

Jared Donaldson (USA) vs. Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA)

Kyle Edmund (GBR) vs. Santiago Giraldo (COL)

COURT 7 

Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) vs. [WC] Alex Bolt (AUS)

[13] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs Guido Pella (ARG) – RBA can do damage here.

COURT 8

[18] Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs [WC] Blake Mott (AUS) – The Aussie Wildcards are not getting much love from me in these picks.

Benoit Paire (FRA) vs [PR] Tommy Haas (GER) – Good for Haas to still be out there, but I think Paire will win in 4 or 5 sets.

COURT 10

Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) vs. Donald Young (USA) – Young tends to grab a win or two.

Gilles Muller (LUX) vs. Taylor Fritz (USA) – Olympic flag bearer vs. the bearer of US men’s hopes?

COURT 12

[Q] Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)

Hyeon Chung (KOR) vs. Renzo Olivo (ARG)

COURT 13

[25] Gilles Simon (FRA) vs [WC] Michael Mmoh (USA)

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) – This should be a fun match, but Baghdatis has had better result over the past 15 months.

COURT 14

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) vs. Borna Coric (CRO) – Dolgopolov is hard to predict, but he could win this match.  Still, I think Coric is more than 50% likely to win.

Denis Istomin (UZB) vs. [Q]  Ivan Dodig (CRO) – This would be a fun match to watch up close.

COURT 15

[32] Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)

Adam Pavlasek (CZE) vs. [WC] Andrew Whittington (AUS)

COURT 19

[30] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) vs. [LL] Peter Polansky (CAN) – Lucky loser and Canadian Content won’t likely advance.

[20] Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Horacio Zeballos (ARG) – Ivo had a good summer swing on hard courts in N. America.  If Zeballos can take care of his own serve, he can spring the upset, but Ivo is used to pressure tiebreaks.

COURT 20

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) vs. [Q] Radek Stepanek (CZE) – Veterans clash, but the worm advances in my view.

[28] Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs Fabio Fognini (ITA) – If Fabio is hitting good passing shots and returns, this pick will look silly.  

COURT 22

Radu Albot (MDA) vs. Carlos Berlocq (ARG)

Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. [Q] Ernesto Escobedo (USA)