Australian Open Predictions 2023: SportsTips’ Top Tennis Picks For Round 2

Australian Open Predictions 2023: SportsTips’ Top Tennis Picks For Round 2
Tue 17th January 2023

We have reached Round 2 here at the Australian Open for 2023, and there were a few surprising results in the previous round, but majority of the top seeds on both the men’s and women’s side of the draw remain in the hunt.

If you thought the first round was exciting, wait until you see what is in store during the next round. Round 2 is sure to bring more upsets, but which seeds will prove too good for the unseeded players? We are going to find out soon!

Enjoy our free tennis picks and predictions for each round at the Australian Open for the 2023 season.

Round 2 Tennis Picks at the Australian Open: Men’s Draw

Rafael Nadal (1) vs Mackenzie McDonald

Rafael Nadal successfully navigated through a tough first round match, and dropped one set in the process. Nadal will now face off against unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald. McDonald came through the first round with a grueling performance against fellow American, Nakashima, in five sets (three of which went to a tie break).

Aleksandar Ricliev

Rafael Nadal faced a challenging first-round match against the British sensation Jack Draper. In an exciting match that lasted almost 4 hours, the 36-year-old Spaniard emerged victorious. Despite his age and rumors of his imminent retirement, Nadal remains one of the greatest players of all time. He may no longer have the stamina to play his signature unbreakable defense, but he continues to keep it simple and avoid mistakes. His opponent must be at the highest level and play their best to have a chance of defeating him. 

Mackenzie McDonald is a decent American tennis player with great footwork, but he lacks the power in his attacks to pose a real threat to Nadal. In the first round, McDonald’s opponent made 55 unforced errors, practically handing the game to him. The match against Nadal presents a completely different challenge, one that McDonald may not be ready to face. In their only match against each other in 2020, Nadal dominated, winning 3-0 and allowing McDonald only one game in the first two sets. Nadal is two years older, but the outcome will likely be the same. Nadal wins and covers the game spread.

Aleksandar’s Australian Open Pick:

Player Spread – Nadal -7.5 (-143)

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Denis Kirilov

The defending champion had a tough start to this year’s Australian Open as he fought hard in a 3-1 win over Jack Draper. Rafa Nadal has been struggling with injuries lately which had him participate in only 14 tournaments last season. However, the 22-time Grand Slam winner is certainly a favorite against Mackenzie McDonald. Both his top spin shots and his defense should be a tough tackle for the American to overcome. On the other hand, we shouldn’t forget that he is past his mid-30s, which might take its toll on his overall endurance and performance.  

McDonald is currently ranked world number 65 and has fourth round points to defend from 2021. After snapping Borna Coric’s chances in the second round, he was ousted by Daniil Medvedev in the Round of 16. His game is highly dependent on his first serve and this might not work against Rafa Nadal. However, I think that he will be able to take advantage of Nadal’s inconsistency and take away one set in the match. 

Denis’ Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Nadal 3-1 (+290)

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Jack Hartman

Rafael Nadal showed no signs of injury or loss of form as the defending champion battled through against the dangerous and talented Jack Draper in Round 1. Against Draper, it was never going to be an easy assignment and there will be no panic over the set he lost. Instead Nadal will be pleased that he was able to overcome such a tricky first round opponent. Looking to preserve as much energy as possible, Nadal will be confident heading into his second round clash against American Mackenzie McDonald. 

After suffering a mixed start to 2023, McDonald will be absolutely delighted with his victory over fellow American Brandon Nakashima in the first round. Played amidst some stifling heat, McDonald outlasted his younger opponent to prevail in five sets. How much that has taken out of the American remains to be seen, but McDonald knows that he will have to be at his very best to overcome the Spanish icon. The two have met on just one occasion when Nadal demolished McDonald in straight sets at the 2020 French Open. It would be a surprise if there was any other outcome here. 

Jack’s Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Nadal 3-0 (-154)

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Stefanos Tsitsipas (3) vs Rinky Hijikata

The third seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas, will not be the crowd favorite as he goes up against hometown hero, Rinky Hijikata, in the second round. Tsitsipas won his opening clash in straight sets, as his opponent Halys didn’t take advantage of his chances. Hijikata dropped the opening two sets in his first round clash, but then was able to feed off the crowd to win the final three sets and advance to the second round.

Aleksandar Ricliev

Stefanos Tsitsipas did not end the year of 2022 as he would have hoped. With world number one Novak Djokovic absent from the tennis scene for half the season due to vaccine restrictions, Tsitsipas had the opportunity to win the major tournaments and improve his standing in the world of tennis, but failed in his attempts. Now, with Djokovic returning to the Australian Open looking for revenge, Tsitsipas faces a much more difficult path. However, he is entering the tournament in great form, having won eight matches in a row and playing with impressive confidence. In the first round, he easily defeated Halys, winning 3-0 in a match that lasted just over two hours.

Rinky Hijikata will have the support of the home crowd. The Australian played an inspiring match against Hanfmann in the first round, winning in five sets with the help of the fans. However, this match presents a different challenge for his skills and endurance. Tsitsipas is one of the best tennis players in the world and enjoys playing the role of the villain with the fans. He will enter the match fired up, and Hijikata will be under pressure from the very first minute. I predict Tsitsipas will have a strong showing and win 3-0.

Aleksandar’s Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Tsitsipas 3-0 (-210)

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Denis Kirilov

Stefanos Tsitsipas loves playing in Melbourne as he already has three Semifinal appearances at the Australian Open. The 24-year-old Greek player is currently on an 8-match winning streak after avoiding the loss in his last two tournaments. Tsitsipas had a tough first round match-up against Quentin Halys, but he eventually prevailed in straight sets. He grew as a player throughout the last couple of seasons and he shouldn’t have much trouble against Rinky Hijikata as well. 

The crowd hopes to see an upset on Wednesday as the home-boy Rinky Hijikata managed to slip past the first round after a 3-2 win over Yannick Hanfmann. The young Australian enjoyed his best year on the ATP Tour in 2022 as he managed to reach the main draw at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. However, he is still miles away from Tsitsipas’ experience, qualities and even endurance. His 5-set thriller in the first round might be the decisive factor for his upcoming meeting with Tsitsipas, as I believe that the Greek will be able to cover the spread in their first head-to-head match.  

Denis’ Australian Open Pick:

Player Spread – Tsitsipas -7.5 (-154)

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Jack Hartman

With the cruel absence of Nick Kyrgios, Australian attention in the men’s side of the draw have been directed elsewhere, and in Rinky Hijikata, the Australian faithful have a new hero to get behind. Awarded a wild card for the event, Hijikata showed why he is considered one of the game’s brightest prospects as he battled from two sets down to beat Yannick Hanfmann. Feeding off a frenzied home support, the young Aussie wrapped up victory in over four hours. Hijikata’s reward is a match up against third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, but he will be hoping he can build on the experience he gained at last year’s US Open when he lost to Rafa Nadal in his first ever Grand Slam match. 

Once again Tsitsipas entered this year’s Australian Open flying under the radar despite being the tournament’s third seed. A semifinalist in both 2022 and 2021, Tsitsipas will be hoping he can go a few matches further this year. Tsitsipas will be pleased with his first round victory over the tricky Frenchman Quentin Halys and will be hoping that he can make quick work of both his Australian opponent and the crowd in this contest. Arguably no man in the draw is in better form than the Greek star who has now won in his last eight matches. Unsurprisingly this will be the pairs first ever meeting and it would be a surprise to see any other result than a Tsitsipas victory in straight sets. 

Jack’s Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Tsitsipas 3-0 (-210)

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Sebastian Korda (29) vs Yosuke Watanuki

The 29th seeded American, Sebastian Korda, will face off against unseeded Japanese player, Yosuke Watanuki. Korda dropped one set in his opening round match against Garin, while it was a straight sets victory for Watanuki over Rinderknech.

Aleksandar Ricliev

Sebastian Korda is looking to continue his impressive start to 2023. In the “warm-up tournament” to the Australian Open, Adelaide, he reached the Final and gave Novak Djokovic a run for his money. Korda seems to be in great form and his overall playing style is evolving every day. The American is a gifted power-hitter who possesses great footwork and agility, as do most of the best players in the game of tennis. In the first round of the tournament, he had some trouble in the second set against the Chilean pride Garin, but he was dominant in the rest of the match, resulting in an easy win. If Korda continues playing this well, it could be an amazing year for the American.

Yosuke Watanuki is a well-respected Japanese tennis player. His gameplay revolves around outstanding defensive footwork and fight. Defensive players are always a nightmare to play against for any opponent, as Rinderknech found out in the first round of the tournament, as Watanuki made easy work of him in three sets. However, Sebastian Korda is a much better player, and Watanuki will be under pressure from the first minute. I expect Korda to dominate this match and eventually win it, covering the game spread.

Aleksandar’s Australian Open Pick:

Player Spread – Korda -6.5 (-120)

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Denis Kirilov

Sebastian Korda would love to improve his performance from 2022 where he missed out on having a decent run at a Grand Slam. He reached two third rounds (Australian Open and Wimbledon) and was quite consistent across the other ATP Tour Masters tournaments. The 22-year-old American caught our eyes with a Final in Adelaide where he had a match point against Novak Djokovic, but failed to convert and lost the match in three sets. Then, he had to dig deep to overcome Cristian Garin’s challenge in the first round at the Australian Open. 

On the other hand, Yosuke Watanuki is world number 138. The 24-year-old Japanese enjoyed an incredible end to 2022 when he snatched two consecutive Challenger trophies in November. He had an impressive winning streak at the Australian Open after losing a set only to Mikhail Kukushkin in the qualifying stages. In the first round, Watanuki stopped Arthur Rinderknech with ease (6-3, 6-3, 6-2). I think it’s time for his first real challenge and I reckon that we will be in for a fantastic treat on Wednesday. This match is “over” in my book.   

Denis’ Australian Open Pick:

Total Games – Over 35.5 (+100)

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Jack Hartman

Despite being a presence on the ATP Tour for a few seasons now, Sebastian Korda is playing in just his second Australian Open and will be hoping he can repeat his efforts from last year where reached the third round. Last year was a frustrating year for the talented American who despite some positive results, didn’t quite climb up the rankings as he would have expected. This year looks to be a different story and Korda has started his year in great fashion. Korda warmed up for this year’s Australian Open by playing in the first Adelaide tournament where he reached the Final. Wins against Andy Murray and Jannik Sinner would be achieved before he lost in a tight dramatic Final to Novak Djokovic. Korda advanced comfortably in his first round match, beating the tough Chilean Christian Garin in four sets. Korda has the potential of making a deep run this fortnight and will be hoping for a comfortable day’s work against Yosuke Watanuki.

The world knows little about Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki. Ranked just inside the world’s top 150, this is Watanuki’s first ever Grand Slam. A qualifier into this year’s draw, Watanuki has lost just one set in the four matches he has played at Melbourne Park. Watanuki overcame Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in his first ever Grand Slam match and the Japanese certainly showed no signs of nerves, beating Rinderknech comfortably in straight sets. Interestingly this will be the pair’s third meeting with Watanuki having won their first two. Both matches have come at Challenger level and they last met in 2020. Korda is a different player since those days and should have too much class for Watanuki here. 

Jack’s Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Korda 3-1 (+275)

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Round 2 Tennis Picks at the Australian Open: Women’s Draw

Iga Świątek (1) vs Camila Osorio

The world number one and top seed here at the Australian Open, Iga Świątek, showed just why she is at the top, with a clinical performance against Niemeier in the first round. The Pole will be up against Camila Osorio in the second round. Osorio also put on a clinical performance, and she made it through in straight sets, only dropping five games in the process.

Aleksandar Ricliev

After an amazing 2022, Iga Swiatek is coming to the Australian Open to prove she’s still the top dog in the world of women’s tennis. After losing in the Semifinal of the Australian Open last year, she’s looking for a little bit of payback. In her first round match, she had a bit of a struggle against the German power hitter Neimeier, but she eventually came out on top, winning 2-0 after a two-hour battle.

On the other hand, we’ve got Camila Osorio, a Colombian player who doesn’t have much experience in big tournaments. She’s known for making a lot of unforced errors and sometimes her decision making is a bit questionable. But in her first round match, she had an easy win against Udvardy, who basically beat herself with 30 unforced errors, losing in just an hour and 20 minutes. It’s pretty clear that Osorio is outmatched against Swiatek, who’s in a whole different league. The match will probably be over pretty quickly, with Swiatek coming out on top 2-0. And if you’re feeling lucky, you can even bet on Swiatek to cover the game spread.

Aleksandar’s Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Swiatek 2-0 (-450)

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Denis Kirilov

Iga Swiatek has undoubtedly been the most successful tennis player of 2022. She reached world number 1 back in April and managed to win both the French Open and the US Open. Swiatek reached such high consistency levels that she barely mishandled a shot in her matches. Her overall performance was unparalleled due to her fantastic on-court movement and shot placement. However, even during her most dominant months, she struggled in the first rounds at Grand Slams. She defeated Jule Niemeier in the first round in straight sets after coming back from a break down at 3-5 in the second part of the match. 

On the other hand, Camila Osorio is quite inexperienced when it comes to Grand Slam appearances. The 21-year-old Colombian made her breakthrough in 2021 when she reached the third round at Wimbledon. She also won her first WTA 250 title on home ground after defeating Tamara Zidansek. Osorio made her top 40 debut in the following year as she kept high consistency levels. I strongly believe that she will be able to put up a decent fight against Swiatek and break her serve a couple of times during the match. That’s why I will go with Camila Osorio covering her spread on Wednesday. 

Denis’ Australian Open Pick:

Player Spread – Osorio +6.5 (+110)

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Jack Hartman

A winner of two Grand Slam titles last year which included her first Grand Slam on a hard court, many have been questioning world number one and the top seed in the women’s draw Iga Swiatek. After suffering a setback against Jessica Pegula in the United Cup and after withdrawing from Adelaide last week, Swiatek knew she had a battle on her hands to overcome last year’s Wimbledon Quarterfinalist Niemeier. Showing signs of nerves and annoyance throughout her first round, Swiatek will be pleased to have advanced in two hard fought sets. Swiatek played her best tennis when it truly mattered and she will be confident of reaching the third round.

Standing in the way of Swiatek’s march to the third round is the Colombian Camila Osario. This Osario’s first appearance at Melbourne Park and is the only third time in her career that she has reached this stage of a Grand Slam. Making the most of a kind draw, Osario had far too much consistency for her first round opponent Panna Udvardy and like Swiatek was able to advance in straight sets. This is a tough matchup for the Colombian who is likely to get hit off the court. She will be hoping that her consistent game will draw the errors out of Swiatek. This will be the first meeting between the players and it would be a huge surprise if Swiatek were not to advance comfortably. 

Jack’s Australian Open Pick:

Correct Score (Set 1) – Swiatek 6-1 (+340)

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Madison Keys (10) vs Wang Xinyu

One of the many Americans still left in the draw, Madison Keys will face off against Wang Xinyu for a place in the third round. Keys won her first round match against Blinkova in three sets, while it was a straight sets victory for Xinyu.

Aleksandar Ricliev

Madison Keys came into the tournament in great form, having won all 5 of her matches in 2023. However, in her first round match against Blinkova, Keys looked off her game, making too many unforced errors. The American power-hitter is at her best when she controls the tempo of the match, sending wave after wave of attacks to her opponents, keeping them on their toes. However, her footwork has always been questionable, and when she makes too many unforced errors attacking, she struggles.

Wang Xinyu is an outstanding defensive tennis player. Unlike Keys, Wang’s footwork is impeccable and she always makes her opponents earn every point. With two very different playing styles, this matchup should be exciting to watch. The powerful and accurate attacks of Keys against the impenetrable defense and outstanding counter-attacking of Wang. Keys is the favorite, but if she comes to the court with the same focus and attitude as in her match against Blinkova, she may be out of the Australian Open. I expect to see a hard-fought battle for every point, lots of excitement, and emotions. This match will go over the total games spread.

Aleksandar’s Australian Open Pick:

Total Games – Over 22.5 (+145)

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Denis Kirilov

Despite being seeded at number 10 at the Australian Open, Madison Keys seems like a totally different player right now. The American has gradually lost her on-court movement and struggles to keep up with the newcomers in the WTA. However, she managed to reach her second Australian Open Semifinal last year which would definitely motivate her to defend these points. Her performance against Anna Blinkova in the first round suggested otherwise. She seemed sloppier on the court with many backhand issues. 

On the other hand, Wang Xinyu is yet another Chinese player that made her way into the top 100 in 2022. She is looking for her best Grand Slam performance as she only reached the second round at the Australian Open last year. Wang relied much on the ITF Circuit to climb the rankings ladder. Two titles and four finals on that level wrapped up her season as she is now looking to make her breakthrough on the WTA Tour. The Chinese player held her nerves against Storm Hunter in the first round and I think she might be a tough match-up for Keys as well. I will go with the huge upset here. 

Denis’ Australian Open Pick:

Match Winner – Xinyu (+333)

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Jack Hartman

Madison Keys enjoyed a stunning 2022 which finally saw her return from injury and return to the upper echelons of the women’s game. Keys’ brilliant year started at last year’s Australian Open where she reached the Semifinal before losing to eventual winner Ash Barty. Keys played a crucial part in the USA winning the inaugural United Cup. Playing as the second ranked player in the team, Keys would go through the event undefeated. Clearly in good form, Keys needed every ounce of her game and experience to oust the talented Anna Blinkova in three sets. The radar was slightly off for Keys in her first round clash and she will be hoping to play much better in her meeting with Chinese player Wang Xinyu. 

Wang Xinyu will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Li Na who won this title back in 2014. Wang’s tournament got off to the perfect start when she edged Aussie wild card Storm Hunter in two tight sets. Heading into the Australian Open, Wang’s form was inconsistent as she failed to qualify in Hobart 1 before reaching the Quarterfinal in Hobart 2. If she is to beat Keys in the pairs first ever meeting, she will need a bit of help and will hope that Keys inconsistencies return here. 

Jack’s Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Keys 2-0 (-163)

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Leylah Fernandez vs Caroline Garcia (4)

Leylah Fernandez will be looking to book herself a spot in the third round, but standing in her way is the fourth seed, Caroline Garcia. Fernandez has already dispatched a Frenchwoman in the tournament, Cornet, in straight sets. Likewise, Garcia has already dispatched a Canadian in the first round, defeating Sebov in straight sets.

Aleksandar Ricliev

Leylah Fernandez started the Australian Open with a bang. The Canadian power-hitter put on a show in the first round, eliminating Cornet who had suffered a slight injury. Fernandez controlled the match from the start and never let go. She’s an extremely aggressive attacking player, and on her best day, she can beat anyone. The lefty Canadian possesses a wide array of shot selections that can unlock any defense. However, she’ll need to bring her A-game against Garcia if she wants to move forward.

Caroline Garcia is one of the favorites to win the Australian Open. She comes in ranked number 4 in the tournament and will be looking to start 2023 with a bang. In Round 1, she played against another Canadian, Sebov, beating her in a little over an hour, allowing her opponent only 3 games in the match. Garcia is an aggressive power-hitter as well, but she’s on a different level than Fernandez in her defensive footwork and counter-attacking shots. Garcia is a much more evolved tennis player and will be the favorite to win this match. Fernandez is pretty much a one-dimensional player, if her attacks fail, she has no plan B and she loses the match. However, I expect her to show up and give Garcia a run for her money. This should be a fun match to watch and I’m taking the total games over bet.

Aleksandar’s Australian Open Pick:

Total Games – Over 21.5 (-125)

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Denis Kirilov

The 2021 US Open runner-up, Leylah Fernandez, will come up against one of the best performing players on the WTA Tour recently, Caroline Garcia. With her win over Alize Cornet, the young Canadian managed to slip through the first round in Melbourne for the first time in her career. Her loss against Ysaline Bonaventure in the Quarterfinal in Auckland raised some concerns ahead of this year’s Australian Open. However, Fernandez proved her critics wrong and held her head up high as she dominated over Cornet for yet another time. 

On the other hand, Caroline Garcia is surely one of the favorites to snatch the title. The experienced French player has been enjoying her peak-level tennis lately which helped her reach a world number 4. She reached the Semifinal at the 2022 US Open and completely obliterated the field during the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, Texas. Her consistency is what made the huge difference for her in the second half of the 2022 season. However, Fernandez has proven herself to be a tough competitor and I think that she will be able to send this match into a third set. 

Denis’ Australian Open Pick:

Total Sets – Over 2.5 (+145)

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Jack Hartman

Since Leylah Fernandez’s dream run to the 2021 US Open Final, things haven’t quite gone to plan for the Canadian who has only been able to post one Grand Slam Quarterfinal effort since. Now ranked at 39 in the world, Fernandez has reached the second round at Melbourne Park for the very first time in her career. This second round matchup against 4th seed Caroline Garcia is arguably the best second round match across both the men’s and women’s draws. Fernandez warmed up perfectly for the match, beating Garcia’s compatriot Alize Cornet in straight sets in Round 1. Fernandez’s victory demonstrated everything great about her game and she will need everything to be fully firing if she is to advance past the world number 4 in this contest. 

Few would have predicted that at the end of last year’s Australian Open, Caroline Garcia would be seeded four for this year’s tournament. Garcia was unseeded at this event last year and crashed out in Round 1, she hasn’t advanced past this round since 2019. Garcia is well and truly at home on hard courts and this is demonstrated by her victory at last year’s Tour Finals. That win represented that Garcia belonged at the top level of the game and she will be hoping for a deep run this year. Garcia warmed up for this clash by losing just three games and despite the prospect of being pushed all the way, this is an encounter she will be confident of progressing in. 

Jack’s Australian Open Pick:

Set Betting – Garcia 2-1 (+290)

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If you are interested in more news for the Australian Open then make sure you visit our tennis hub page, we’ve got all the details you need!

*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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