Round one of the Australian is loaded with mouth-watering matchups, including one on Monday between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Dominic Thiem. Elsewhere, Ugo Humbert kicks off his campaign against qualifier David Goffin.
(27) Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Dominic Thiem
In 2020 and 2021, Auger-Aliassime vs. Thiem would have been worthy of a Grand Slam semifinal. In 2024 it belongs in the first round–and that’s exactly where it is at this year’s Australian Open. The two former top-six players have fallen upon hard times and they will face each other for jus the second time in their careers on Monday. Their only previous encounter came four years ago in the U.S. Open fourth round, where Thiem prevailed 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-1 on the way to his first and only major title.
Neither player is anywhere near major title contention at this point. Auger-Aliassime was a disaster last year after Indian Wells aside from an out-of-nowhere title in Basel, a tournament he also won in 2022. The 27th-ranked Canadian has played just one match in 2024 and lost right away in Auckland to Daniel Altmaier. Thiem is struggling down at No. 94 in the world, but he at least managed to win 19 tour-level matches last season and successfully qualified in Brisbane earlier in January before falling to Rafael Nadal. Thiem has somewhat of an injury-related excuse for his recent woes, whereas Auger-Aliassime is simply playing bad tennis. Look for the 30-year-old Austrian to emerge victorious in what will likely be a roller-coaster of a match.
Pick: Thiem in 5
(21) Ugo Humbert vs. (Q) David Goffin
Humbert vs. Goffin won’t grab as many headlines, but this should be a much higher-quality contest on Monday. Although Goffin is toiling away down at No. 107 in the rankings, but he has to be confident after winning three qualifying matches to book his place in the main draw. Humbert was outstanding throughout the second half of 2023, with quarterfinal and semifinal results all over the place in addition to a season-ending title in Metz.
This matchup marks their third meeting and the head-to-head series is tied up 1-1. Humbert scored a 6-3, 6-1 victory at the 2019 Antwerp event before Goffin won 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5 in the 2022 Wimbledon third round. This is a dangerous opening match for Humbert, but Goffin has not defeated anyone ranked better than 87th in the world since January of 2023. An in-form Humbert is the far more reliable performer at this point in their respective careers.
Pick: Humbert in 4
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