📰 Table Of Contents
The Main Event
Taylor Fritz opens his Australian Open campaign tomorrow and is hoping to make swift progress against fellow American Jenson Brooksby.
Fritz arrives in Melbourne as the fourth seed and, while not quite in the same bracket as the likes of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz, is rated as a genuine contender at the season’s first grand slam event.
An opening round clash with Brooskby – who won their only previous meeting at the 2021 US Open – is a nasty one to have to navigate first up but Fritz is adamant facing the 24-year-old, who also hails from California, is his sole focus.
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He said: “The worst thing I can do is be looking super far ahead in the draw and be looking at, like, I’m a top four seed, and put this pressure on myself. It’s the same mentality that I always have. I take it one match at a time.”
Fritz enjoyed a strong 2024, reaching the final of the US Open and the quarters at Wimbledon and in Melbourne.
He had to survive a five-set marathon against Facundo Diaz Acosta in the opening round here 12 months ago, however, and the 27-year-old is eager to avoid a repeat.
Fritz has played more five-setters than anyone else since 2020 and he concedes that’s not a recipe for success.
He added: “Hopefully I’m not going to play early five-setters because then you’re playing catch up the whole tournament, with the toll you’re putting on your body.”
Fritz and Brooksby have been shunted out to the John Cain Arena tomorrow and will follow ninth seed Daria Kasatkina on to court.
Also in action
Two home hopes highlight an underwhelming evening session on Rod Laver Arena.
Eighth seed Alex De Minaur meets Botic van de Zandschulp while Olivia Gadecki takes on Veronika Kudermetova.
The afternoon session is undoubtedly the more attractive on the main show court.
Eighth seed Emma Navarro will hope to maintain her upward trajectory against fellow American Peyton Stearns before Daniil Medvedev plays Thai wild card Kasidit Samrej.
Medvedev has reached the final in Melbourne in three of the last four years but continues to fly under the radar.
Another all-American matchup sees Ben Shelton meet Brandon Nakashima while Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune also face first-round matches.
Women’s fourth seed Jasmine Paolini and Sijia Wei of China face off on Margaret Court Arena.
Order of Play
Rod Laver Arena
From 1130am local time
(8) E Navarro (USA) v P Stearns (USA)
K Samrej (Tha) v D Medvedev (Rus)
From 7pm local time
B van de Zandschulp (Ned) v (8) A De Minaur (Aus)
V Kudermetova (Rus) v O Gadecki (Aus)
Margaret Court Arena
From 1130 local time
Z Zhang (Chi) v (13) H Rune (Den)
(6) E Rybakina (Kaz) v E Jones (Aus)
From 7pm local time
S Wei (Chn) v (4) J Paolini (Ita)
(9) A Rublev (Rus) v J Fonseca (Bra)
John Cain Arena
From 1100am local time
V Tomova (Bul) v (9) D Kasatkina (Rus)
(4) T Fritz (USA) v J Brooksby (USA)
How to watch
The Australian Open will be shown in the US on ESPN and the Tennis Channel. Check the listings for start times.
Predictions
Brooksby reached the third round here in 2023 but would have been dismayed to have been drawn against Fritz.
The fourth seed should have too much power and nous for his countryman – and don’t expect this one to go five.
Fritz to win in three sets
Medvedev will cruise past Samrej as will Navarro against Stearns.
De Minaur may find it tricky juggling Van de Zandschulp and the expectations of the Melbourne crowd but ought to emerge in four sets.
