Albert
·
17h
My Prediction
Michelsen in 4 setsAlright, here's the 411 on this Aussie Open matchup captain — it's Karen Khachanov against Alex Michelsen. On paper and if you're a person who loves a good seed, it looks like Khachanov, with the number 19 strapped to his name, has the advantage. But let me let you in on a little secret... seeds don't play the match.
Michelsen may be unseeded, but this dude's bald head is on fire. He easily took out McCabe and Tsitsipas, only dropping one set between the two matches. Sure, he tripped up against Basavareddy, but it wasn't a total wipeout, mate.
As for Khachanov, he's been on a roller coaster ride. Beat Diallo, beat Mannarino, but stumbled against Nishikori and Humbert. You don't want to be on a roller coaster before a big match, trust me. You want calm seas, like the kind Michelsen is sailing.
The matchup's going down at Melbourne Park. It’s a hard surface court, a spiffy one that lends itself to quick gameplay. Both of these chaps are comfortable with the speed, but particularly for Michelsen, the high bouncing ball could work in his favour especially with those impressive spin shots he's known for.
What we're saying here is clear, folks — Michelsen, with his recent results and the playing conditions, despite Khachanov's seed number, presents a compelling case.
Albert’s Prediction: Michelsen in 4 sets
Albert
See some of the stats I‘m using to make this prediction
Recent Results
Seeds
Venue