By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 18, 2023
A blockbuster tilt between resurgent Amanda Anisimova and Paula Badosa is one of the highlights of the Day 6 schedule in Melbourne.
Photo Source: Getty
Third round action kicks off on Friday at the Australian Open, setting the stage for a brilliant weekend in Melbourne. Here’s what we’re keeping tabs on…
SEE THE FULL DAY 6 ORDER OF PLAY HERE
Will Djokovic’s Rough Ride Continue?
It has been a rather complicated first week for Novak Djokovic in Melbourne. The 10-time champion has dropped a set in each of his matches, and has been in danger of going down by two sets to one twice as well. What gives?
Djokovic is a bit under the weather, and perhaps he’s still dealing with lingering effects of the wrist injury that he suffered the week before the Australian Open began. And, let us not forget: he’s faced two opponents that have competed exceptionally well.
Bottom line? Djokovic is winning, like he always does, and until that changes, it’s his tournament to win and his tour to dominate.
On Friday the 24-time Grand Slam champion will take on his first seeded opponent, the No.30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry. He’s a grinder that will try to test Djokovic’s fitness, and if it isn’t up to par, the Argentine will try to exploit it.
Djokovic has won both previous meetings with Etcheverry, and he’ll look to take his game to a higher level this weekend, as the “business end” of the tournament approaches. Bigger challenges will be waiting next week, and the sharks are starting to circle, so it’s about time that Djokovic starts sticking out his chest and making his push.
Gauff and Parks All-American Clash
Coco Gauff and Alycia Parks have never faced one another on tour, but that will change on Friday as the Americans will square off in the second match on Margaret Court Arena.
Parks reached the third round at a major for the first time on Wednesday, impressively defeating Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, while Gauff stretched her Grand Slam winning streak to nine with a win over Caroline Dolehide.
Gauff is aware of Parks’ lethal game and had lots of praise for her in the press room.
“It's going to be a tough match,” Gauff said. “She's a great player, and I always knew she was going to do well on tour. It was just a matter of when it was all going to align. I think now it's starting to align.”
23-year-old Parks is a raw talent at this stage of her career. She packs a world-class serve and heavy groundstrokes, but lacks big-stage experience and some of the variety and consistency that Gauff already has in spades. It will be a great test for her, facing the top American, and a chance to prove that she is destined to be a future force at the majors.
Anisimova and Badosa on the Comeback Trail
Amanda Anisimova spent the second half of the 2023 season on indefinite hiatus due to mental health reasons. Paula Badosa couldn’t get healthy due to a back injury, and ended up pulling the plug on her US Open – and season – because of it.
Fast forward to 2024 and both are looking like resurgent forces once again, as they prepare for their first career meeting. Both Anisimova and Badosa have cruised through their first two matches without dropping a set, and both are starting to look like their old selves. Friday’s tilt in John Cain Arena represents a big opportunity for both.
Other Must-See Matches
16-year-old Mirra Andreeva, the youngest player left in the draw, will bid for a spot in the round of 16 against talented Frenchwoman Diane Parry on Court 3… Alex de Minaur is back in action on John Cain, he’ll face hard-hitting Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli… Sebastian Korda hopes to take out a Russian in the third round in Melbourne for the second consecutive year. Last year it was Daniil Medvedev, tomorrow it could be No.5-seeded Andrey Rublev… Something tells us that the third match on Kia Arena, between Ben Shelton and Adrian Mannarino, is going to be bonkers. Two very talented – and different – left-handers.