What’s the Story? 

Australian Open Round Three Preview

Tennis has been spoiled. For the better part of twenty years the world of tennis has been able to captivate the audience with three names.

Federer. Nadal. Williams.

We are through two rounds at this year’s opening slam, and maybe it is just the time difference, but I’ve yet to see any promotion of the stars of tomorrow on display down under.

For years it was easy. When will Roger meet Rafa? Will Serena play Venus? Throw in the current World Number One Novak Djokovic into the mix and all work was done. There was no need for promotion. The plot was already there.

While I’m not on the payroll at the Australian Open Marketing Department, tournament director Craig Tiley is welcome to call me anytime, I’m going to do what this sport has not needed to do in years. Sell.

Why should you care? This is the question Tiley and his staff need to answer to every fan who is going to bed tonight and sees the Australian Open coming on at the god awful late night hours. Why should you care? If we don’t care then there is no reason to watch, especially when you got work the next day and the big names won’t be on until after midnight.

Now that we’re past the usually boring opening two rounds the draw is beginning to shake up, so let’s take a look at the most intriguing matchups and figure out why you should tune in each night.

Starting at the top of the men’s draw we have the favorite. Record setting twenty-four time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The juggernaut of tennis. Do I see any reason to start sounding the alarms for an upset against Argentine Etcheverry? No. If anything we might see Novak get a little upset, drop a set like he has done in the previous two matches, but right the ship in four sets. However, what may wait for him in the fourth round is where the story takes shape. American Ben Shelton, only twenty-one years old and ranked sixteenth in the world, has the chance to rematch against Djokovic in the round of sixteen after bowing out to him at the US Open Quarterfinals. That was the match where Novak infamously stole Shelton’s hanging up the phone celebration after winning the match in straight sets. But that was then and this is now. Shelton has a dominating serve, is incredibly athletic, and most importantly he is very young. If Novak drops a set and has to dig deep in that Australian heat against a kid fifteen years younger than him, then that’s when I start looking for the upset that will truly place Shelton into the solidified contender category.

Below them in the draw, another American in Taylor Fritz has the chance to face off against former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas if both can advance to the fourth round. Now here’s the meat to this one, both of these men have struggled on the big stage. Fritz has never been to a major semifinal, and only has two quarter final appearances to his name. While Tsitsipas has found himself in two Grand Slam finals, he has also had a tendency to fall early when the draw seems to be in his favor. With Novak having dropped some sets already, and a tough matchup against Shelton on the horizon, both Fritz and Tsitsipas have a prime opportunity with a fast victory to be well rested in the quarterfinals and make a deep run this year. 

Next up we have the second quarter of the draw where three names stand out in Jannik Sinner, Alex DeMinaur, and Andrey Rublev. Jannik Sinner is the most talented of the three, but has yet to make a grand slam final. Could this be the tournament where he finally plays for the trophy? DeMinaur is the home favorite, and Australia has not had a home finalist on the men’s side since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005. With a favorable draw and solid form there is reason to believe the Aussie might find himself in the last eight. And then there’s the Russian Andrey Rublev. World number five, and the most unlucky man in the sport of tennis. Only twenty-six years old, and he has already advanced to nine quarter final matches. He has also played in zero semifinal matches. Zero quarter final wins in nine attempts. But this year the road seems less daunting. He is favored against his next opponent, Sebastian Korda, and most likely favored against DeMinaur. Then it would be a coin flip against Sinner. Can the Russian finally enter the semifinals?

On the bottom half of the draw we have two former champions. Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz. Both on a collision course for the semifinals. Both have been tested. One more than the other. While Alcaraz had a four set match against Italian Lorenzo Sonego which included two tiebreakers, it was Medvedev who needed to go the distance. Five sets against Finland’s Emil Ruusuvouri, who went up two sets to love over the world number three before dropping the next three straight. After weathering the storms is there anyone who can stop these two from meeting?

I could list out some big names. Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, or even Grigor Dimitrov. But that would not be honest of me. The truth is none of these top players, while talented in their own right, really scare Medvedev and Alcaraz. If they all play their best it will be the two favorites advancing.

But a wiry, six foot four teenager from southern California who goes by the name Alex Michelsen? He should be keeping Medvedev and Alcaraz up all night. With a powerful two-handed backhand that can create off-angle winners, and enough moxy to his game to believe he can win, this kid could create some problems for the big dogs. In fact, I’m willing to claim that I think he is going to beat Alexander Zverev in the third round. And while I’m at it, let me throw in another American with New Jersey’s very own Tommy Paul. Tommy Paul plays enough error-free tennis, watch out cause his game could be lethal.

So is the game missing some of its biggest names? Of course, I miss Roger and Rafa more than the next guy. But is there still a reason to tune in before going to bed? Absolutely.

And be sure to check out our preview of the biggest storylines on the women’s side of the draw heading into the second week.