MATCHES TO WATCH ON DAY THREE OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
* 17-Nick Kyrgios (AUS) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)
Kyrgios impressed in a three-set stroll of Rogerio Dutra Silva but should find the going tougher against the Serbian veteran. Troicki is a previously seeded journeyman capable of upsets on his day, even if those days are further between each other than they used to be. The Australian’s big advantages? Kyrgios is on his beloved Hisense Arena, where he enjoys terrific support. In their only meeting – in Canada last year – Kyrgios earned a straight-sets win. Troicki also battled for five sets and nearly three hours in the sun against South Australian Alex Bolt on Monday.
* 23-Daria Gavrilova (AUS) v Elise Mertens (BEL)
After a stunning straight-sets dismissal of in-form qualifier Irina Falconi on Monday night, Gavrilova has been given another crack at Rod Laver Arena. She’ll play Elise Mertens, who beat her in three close sets earlier this month at the Hopman Cup. The Belgian is unlucky not to be seeded in Melbourne as the world No.36 and has form over the Australian No.2 – also knocking her out of the French Open last year. Gavrilova says there isn’t a favourite for the match and on that form line, it’s hard to disagree.
* Denis Shapovalov (CAN) v 15-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
A popcorn match on Margaret Court Arena as tennis’s new guard and old guard collide once more. Shapovalov, the emerging Canadian, knocked out Tsonga at this stage in last year’s US Open to confirm his arrival on the big stage. The Frenchman is one of the most popular players in Melbourne but could find the crowd getting behind the enigmatic 18-year-old. It’s been a decade since Tsonga made the final against Djokovic.
* Alize Cornet (FRA) v 12-Julia Goerges (GER)
Can anyone stop Goerges? The German is the form player in the world now in either draw with 15 successive wins that’ve included titles in Moscow, Zhuhai and Auckland. That run has allowed her to cut her world ranking in half – from 27 to 12 – a career best. Cornet’s best is 11 – but that was in 2009, and the Frenchwoman has an 0-4 career record against the free-swinging German. Her best formline is her record against top players; in the last, she won every match she played against players in the top 10.
* Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) v Matthew Ebden (AUS)
The 2013 mixed doubles champion at Melbourne Park might never have a better opportunity to make a run in the singles after beating 16th seed John Isner in the first round. Amazing to think last year he was an unsuccessful qualifier – now only Nick Kyrgios is a higher-ranked Australian. His reward is a matchup with Ukranian Dolgopolov, a former Open quarter-finalist. Should Ebden get a result, he’ll also force Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt to consider him for his 2018 season.
