Australian Open 2023: The Men’s Roughie in Each Quarter Primed for a Deep Run
Last updated: Jan 20, 2023, 4:35AM | Published: Jan 20, 2023, 4:01AM
After four days of action, the 2023 Australian Open men’s draw has been broken wide open with upsets and injury wreaking havoc.
Number 1 seed Rafael Nadal crashed out after fighting through injury, and tournament favourite Novak Djokovic got through his second round encounter, but not before showing signs of real discomfort with the hamstring issue he brought into the Australian Open.
The door is now ajar for a handful of outsiders to make deep runs in the first Grand Slam of 2023.
READ MORE: Why the Aussie Underdogs Are a Dangerous Match-up
Australian Open 2023: Quarter 1 - Frances Tiafoe
Frances Tiafoe is at 1.5% to win the 2023 Australian Open according to Stats Insider's Futures Markets
Daniil Medvedev is the favourite in this quarter after 1st seed Rafael Nadal lost out in the second round after suffering an injury. But keep your eye on Frances Tiafoe, who is in the form of his life.
The hard-hitting American breezed through his second round matchup against Shang Juncheng in straight sets, and has already been backed in from his original price of $2.00 on Sportsbet against Karen Khachanov. You can now get Tiafoe as a slight favourite at $1.84, with Stats Insider’s predictor giving him a 53% chance of making his way to the fourth round.
Medvedev will be a tough matchup for Tiafoe if they both progress to the quarter-final, but his court movement and speed on the ball will prove a very tricky proposition for the Russian 7th seed.
Frances Tiafoe 🤭
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) January 9, 2023
(🎥 @tennistv) pic.twitter.com/jsKX3YJDbY
Australian Open 2023: Quarter 2 - Cam Norrie (11)
Cam Norrie is at 3.7% to win the 2023 Australian Open according to Stats Insider's Futures Markets
There’s a lot of talent in this quarter with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime all highly touted. Among these names is Cam Norrie, who is quietly navigating the draw and playing some blistering tennis.
The Brit only made 66% of his first serves in the second round, but still rained down 17 aces across four sets. His baseline hitting has been powerful and he’s dealt with the fast conditions well.
Norrie is given a 72% chance by Stats Insider of defeating Jiri Lehecka in the third round, and will have a great opportunity to challenge for the quarter by keeping his time on court low in comparison to likely fourth-round matchup Auger-Aliassime.
Never say die 🕴️@ASB_Classic | @cam_norrie | #ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/JU1J2hexyl
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 13, 2023
Australian Open 2023: Quarter 3 - Holger Rune
Holger Rune is at 4.3% to win the 2023 Australian Open according to Stats Insider's Futures Markets
Holger Rune came here as a top-10 ranked player at the age of 19, but had never won an Australian Open match in his professional career before. He’s eased all doubt of his ability on the surface with his play thus far, not dropping a set on the way to a third round matchup with Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
He’s in Novak Djokovic’s quarter - who is dealing with a hamstring injury - but Rune has the game to worry the Serb regardless. His court coverage has been world class, he won 85% of his first serve points in the second round, and he’s very quickly become one of the raucous Aussie crowd’s favourites to cheer on with his fiery on-court demeanour.
Rune will have a long, successful career at the Australian Open, and he has the temperament to make the most of his draw this year.
The ridiculous lob Holger Rune broke Maxime Cressy and later win the set 7-5 #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/0HS8i7fUMX
— Holger Rune News (@running_rune) January 19, 2023
Australian Open 2023: Quarter 4 - Alexei Popyrin
Alexei Popyrin is at 0.0% to win the 2023 Australian Open according to Stats Insider's Futures Markets
This quarter of the draw was busted wide open when the Alexei Popyrin show rolled on in a five-set epic over the heavily-favoured 8th seed Taylor Fritz. He won 87% of his first serve points, limiting Fritz to a miserly two breakpoint chances for the entire match.
Popyrin has been able to rely on his 210 km/h serve so far, and the draw is wide open for him to make the deepest Slam run of his young career. He faces rising American Ben Shelton in the next round.
The Aussie has racked up over eight hours of court time already, so he will need to fight through fatigue to make it out of his quarter, but he’s playing the best tennis of his career and is primed for a career-best showing.
🔓
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 19, 2023
Take a bow, Alexei Popyrin! The Aussie defeats the No.8 seed Taylor Fritz in a five-set epic, 6-7(4) 7-6(2) 6-4 6-7(6) 6-2 😍#GoAussies • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/aCZ1rBL0KW
