Australian Open Prediction: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tomas Machac
12:00 AM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: Stefanos Tsitsipas +170 / Tomas Machac -200
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tomas Machac Preview
Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Shintaro Mochizuki for a second time this season as he cruised into the second round of the Australian Open. Mochizuki briefly led in the match when he won the first set 6-4 with the lone break of serve in the seventh game, taking 50 minutes. But Tsitsipas gained control of the match in the second set when he broke for a 3-1 lead and eventually wrapped up the set 6-3.
Tsitsipas got an early break to start the fourth set and then got a decisive break in the seventh game to lead 5-2. He served to 15 for the set in the next game. In the fourth set, Tsitsipas was dominant as he broke Mochizuki’s serve twice to complete the comeback victory.
Tsitsipas tallied 16 aces and 6 double faults in the match. He landed 66% of first serves in play and won 80% of first serve points (55/69). Tsitsipas won 51% of second serve points (18/35) and saved seven of eight break points. Tsitsipas will seek a spot in the third round of the Australian Open for a seventh time.
Tomas Machac extended his win streak to six matches with a straight sets win over former Australian Open semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov. Machac prevailed 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 47 minutes to reach the second round in Melbourne for the third straight season.
In the victory, Machac fired 38 winners to 21 unforced errors. That included 21 aces and 1 double fault. Machac landed 62% of first serves in play and won 80% of first serve points (41/51). He won 61% of second serve points (19/31) and saved all four break points he faced.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tomas Machac Head-To-Head
Tsitsipas and Machac have faced off once before at the Vienna Open in 2023. Tsitsipas ran out a three-set winner.Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tomas Machac Prediction
Machac is riding on a hot streak right now with six straight wins. It is a run that includes his second ATP title and began the tournament with a clinical straight sets win against Dimitrov. While all that is impressive, this could still be Tsitsipas’ territory. If he gets through that early punch and drags Machac into his preferred patterns and protects the backhand wing by being assertive and aggressive, he’s got a chance. This is unlikely to be straightforward for the in-form Czech.