Predicted Winners in BOLD

[4] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) – The big man is seeded 4th and capable of hammering his way to a title.  Someone has to step up at some point from the younger tiers of players.  Zverev is as good of a pick as any among the younger players at this event.

[2] Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Aljaz Bedene (SLO) – Federer is capable of winning a 6th Australian Open, but a lot will depend on the managing his back.

[14] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Donald Young (USA) – There are a number of question marks surrounding Djokovic at this point, but if he reaches his desired form watch out.  No one has been better on plexicushion than Djokovic.

[12] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) vs. Frances Tiafoe (USA) – This should be fun, but for now, I think JMDP is the favorite.  (In 18-24 months, reverse this result)

[9] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs. Ricardas Berankis (LTU) – Is Stan healthy?  If he is, he can contend.

[19] Thomas Berdych (CZE) vs. [WC] Alex de Minaur (AUS) – Does winning the tiebreak event give Berdych momentum?  Maybe not, but he should still win this match.

[22] Milos Raonic (CAN) vs. Lukas Lacko (SVK) – The Big Canadian needs to recapture some form and consistency and health, but he is capable.

[5] Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs. Guido Pella (ARG) – Thiem is top 5 on clay, but he should be able to transition to hard courts better than he has in recent years.  Maybe this event will demonstrate progress on that front.

[7] David Goffin (BEL) vs. Matthias Bachinger (GER) – Goffin is a lot of fun to watch and perhaps a dark horse for the title.

Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs. [WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) – This should be a fun clash of talented players.  Medvedev’s recent title gives him the edge in my mind.

Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (GER) vs. Maximilian Marterer (GER)

Florian Mayer (GER) vs. Evgeny Donskoy (RUS)

[20] Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP) vs. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) – Hot Sauce has the higher ceiling (perhaps as age may have sapped some of his blastings) but also the lower floor.

[25] Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Horacio Zeballos (ARG)  – I feel uneasy about this pick, but my gut says Fognini wins.

Nicolas Kicker (ARG) vs. Jordan Thompson (AUS) 

Gaël Monfils (FRA) vs. [Q] Jaume Munar (ESP) – Last Stand of La Monf?

Radu Albot (MDA) vs. Marton Fucsovics (HUN)

Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs. [LL] Peter Polansky (CAN)

Jérémy Chardy (FRA) vs. Tennys Sandgren (USA)

Benoit Paire (FRA) vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)

Julien Benneteau (FRA) vs. Taro Daniel (JPN)

[29] Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Blaz Kavcic (SLO)

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) vs. Peter Gojowczyk (GER)

Tim Smyczek (USA) vs. [WC] Alexei Popyrin (AUS)

[13] Sam Querrey (USA) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – US players are not having a good Fortnight.  This draw is not great for Sam Q.

Steve Johnson (USA) vs. Denis Kudla (USA) – 1 US player has to advance here.

[26] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs. [LL] Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

[32] Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Hyeon Chung (KOR) – Super Zverec Bros. both advance?  The older has some ranking points to defend and that could impact his form.

Jiri Vesely (CZE0 vs. [Q] Vaclav Safranek (CZE)

[21] Albert Ramos-Viñolas (ESP) vs. Jared Donaldson (USA)

Robin Haase (NED) vs. [Q] Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)

Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs. [WC] Soonwoo Kwon (KOR)