Aussie Open Day 4: Match Analysis and Picks
By Charles Bricker
Yesterday’s record: 2-1
Tourney record: 9-2 (+4.08 units)
LUCIE SAFAROVA (-115) VS. KLARA ZAKOPALOVA (+104)
Czech vs. Czech. Safarova has a rankings edge (35 to 40), but the rail-thin Zakopalova is the more experienced. Zakopalova holds a 2-0 head-to-head advantage but they haven't played in four years, so that's ancient history. Safarova reached the second round by defeating Shuai Zhang while Zakopalova took down the U.S.' Melanie Oudin in three. She has a win over Marion Bartoli in a warmup to the Australian.
Winner: Zakopalova
ALIZE CORNET (+172) VS. MARIA JOSE MARTINEZ SANCHEZ (-195)
Cornet is ranked only 83rd, but she looks like she's going to return to her Top-20 form this year. She easily beat Coco Vandeweghe to reach the second round while Martinez Sanchez, ranked No. 29, needed three sets to erase Greta Arn. The Spaniard has a 2-0 lifetime edge and, yes, she can play on hardcourts.
Winner: Cornet
FELICIANO LOPEZ (-131) VS. BERNARD TOMIC (+119)
This is a major litmus test for the 18-year-old Aussie, who continue to produce impressive results. His straight-set win over Jeremy Chardy in the first round marks him as an upset possibility against 31st-ranked Lopez. It's a first-time meeting, but Lopez will remember this match a long time. Lopez reached the second round with a win over Alejandro Falla.
Winner: Tomic
BENJAMIN BECKER (+151) VS. ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV (-167)
The 22-year-old Ukraine player, currently No. 46, has Top-20 ability and had a major ride up the rankings last year. But, I like old pro Benny Becker and his big-time serve in this one. Becker, ranked 55th, had a very solid win over Ernests Gulbis in the opening round while Dolgopolov beat Mikhail Kukushkin.
Winner: Becker