Aussie Open Day 6: Match Analysis and Picks
By Charles Bricker
Yesterday's record: 2-1
Tourney record: 13-5 (+5.99 units)
(15) MARIN CILIC (-148) VS. (20) JOHN ISNER (+136)
Cilic is gathering momentum with a couple of straight set wins and Isner is serving like he did before his tailspin at the end of 2010. Big John has 46 aces in two matches. Cilic isn't slamming nearly as many aces, but he's winning 82 percent of the first serves he puts into play. It’s a tight matchup and a first-time meeting between two guys who need to show more match-to-match consistency to hit the Top 10.
Winner: Isner
(11) JURGEN MELZER (-114) VS. (21) MARCOS BAGHDATIS (+105)
The Bag Boy took down Juan Martin Del Potro in the second round, suggesting to many that he's got his game back. But he also needed five sets in the first round to get past an unknown Slovakian. Meanwhile, Melzer rolls into the third round without the loss of a set, but against a couple of undistinguished opponents. Baghdatis is flashier, but I like consistency. This is their first time meeting.
Winner: Melzer
(10) SHAHAR PE'ER (+120) VS. (22) FLAVIA PENNETTA (-130)
Pennetta has dropped only seven games in reaching the third round, but she hasn't replicated her performance at last year's French Open. Pe'er is one hot commodity right now. She doesn't have a crackling big serve, but she backs up what she has - unbroken in four sets. Pennetta leads the all-time series 3-2 but Pe'er has won the last two, including at the U.S. Open last September.
Winner: Pe'er
AYUMI MORITA (+284) VS. SHUAI PENG (-315)
Not high-profile players with Morita at No. 74, Peng at No. 54. A lot has been expected from Peng for a long time and she finally might be displaying some top tennis with a win over No. 7 Jelena Jankovic. She's in the third round in singles and doubles and holds a 2-1 career edge on her Japanese opponent.
Winner: Peng