Ivo Karlovic is hoping to be paid by the hour?

Predicted Winners in BOLD

ROD LAVER ARENA (11 a.m. start)

[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Denis Istomin (UZB) – Novak should advance pretty easily.

[9] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) – This could be fun, but I like Rafa in 3 or 4 sets.  Baghdatis’ hands at net will be tested if he is to shorten a few points and push Rafa.

MARGARET COURT ARENA

[3] Milos Raonic (CAN) vs Gilles Muller (LUX) – I doubt Milos likes this match-up much, but he should win.

[8] Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs. Jordan Thompson (AUS)

HISENSE ARENA

[15] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs  Hyeon Chung (KOR) – Dimitrov’s 2017 is off to a good start and that should continue.

[6] Gael Monfils (FRA) vs Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) – Um … how to predict this?

SHOW COURT 2

[18] Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs [Q] Carlos Berlocq (ARG) – This should be fun.

[24] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs [Q] Frances Tiafoe (USA) – Zverev got through round one and now might make a dent.

SHOW COURT 3

[11] David Goffin (BEL) vs [Q] Radek Stepanek (CZE) – I like Goffin, but the Worm is not to be underestimated.

Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs Benoit Paire (FRA) – Another potentially wild one

COURT 7

[32] Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Donald Young (USA)

[21] David Ferrer (ESP) vs [Q] Ernesto Escobedo (USA)

COURT 8

[13] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs.Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) – I am bullish on RBA.

[20] Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs [WC] Andrew Whittington (AUS) – Does Ivo have anything left?

COURT 13

[30] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) vs Kyle Edmund (GBR)

COURT 20

[25] Gilles Simon (FRA) vs Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA) – Simon is still out there grinding.