The 2024 Australian Open is proceeding with quite a few surprises along the way, especially in the women’s side of the bracket. On the men’s side, essentially all the favourites and heavy-hitters are still in play. As we approach the quarterfinals, let’s see what kind of spectacle and plot twists the Grand Slam will offer us.
Novak Djokovic (1) VS Taylor Fritz (12)
Novak seems in the form of his life at yet another Australian Open. The World No.1 has not lost a game in Melbourne since 2018 – having not participated in the 2022 edition due to covid vaccine restrictions. He is the overwhelming favourite against taylor Fritz, who has been playing well of late but has always struggled in meetings against Nole. Fritz knocked out last year’s finalist and world No. 7 Tsitsipas to se up yet another encounter with Djokovic, who defeated him by 3 sets in the 2023 US Open quarters. We see this encounter ending in pretty much a similar manner: Fritz may be able to take home a set, but he won’t stop Nole’s winning record in Australia.
Djokovic to Win – 1.10
Fritz to Win – 7.00
Jannik Sinner (4) VS Andrey Rublev (5)
The player many are touting as Djokovic’s biggest threat in this season’s Open, Jannik Sinner, faces off in an intriguing matchup with Rublev. This might be the tightest tie of the round, as both have shown exceptional skill so far in the competition. Sinner is yet to drop a set, while Rublev demonstrated great mental determination to defeat home crowd favourite De Minaur last round after being down 2-1 in sets. Sinners holds the head-to-head record between the two, and won their last two encounters in 2023 in ATP matches, with his last loss against Rublev coming in the 2022 Roland Garros. Its high-time Sinner makes a serious run to a semi or a final in a Grand Slam, we give him the edge in this match but it will certainly be a close one.
Sinner to Win – 1.25
Rublev to Win – 4.00
Hubert Hurkacz (9) VS Daniil Medvedev (3)
This is a tasty matchup, and one that could spring a few surprises. Both players have had some troubling moments in this tournament, particularly in the Second Round where both won five set encounters. In the two rounds since, they’ve been almost perfect, dropping only a set each in those matches. While most people would place Medveded as an overwhelming favorite in this game, I tend to disagree. Hurkacz has one of the biggest and best serves in the game, and he will need it against a Medveded who likes to sit deep as he receives. Ultimately, this will be an interesting clash but Medvedev will just about survive: I predict a a 4-to-5 set game with lots of twists and turns.
Hurkacz to Win – 2.90
Medvedev to Win – 1.40
Alexander Zverev (6) VS Carlos Alcaraz (2)
These two heavyweights met several times in recent years. While Zverev maintains the edge in head-to-heads 4-3, Alcaraz defeated the german in straight sets at the US Open a couple months ago. Alcaraz has been dominated against lesser opponents so far in the Open, while Zverev showed his stubbornness by outlasting Norrie in the previous round in a five set thriller. The Spaniard will undoubtedly be the more well-rested of the two, and that will likely play in his favour quite heavily. Alcaraz bases his play on his athleticism, speed and sheer will. He may well outlast Zverev if this match becomes a longer encounter. We see him getting all the way to his first Australian Open final, as he is in fine form to start the year.
Zverev to Win – 4.75
Alcaraz to Win – 1.18
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