MUST-SEE MATCHES ON DAY THREE OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
* 1-Ashleigh Barty (AUS) v Polona Hercog (SLO)
After surviving a first-round scare against world No.120 Lesia Tsurenko, fans expect Barty to jump out out the blocks in pursuit of a place in the last 32. Barty has never played the Slovenian so will be extra wary in another potential banana skin for Australia’s top seed. But anything close to her best should be enough for the world No.1 to edge further in the draw and set up her likely first seeded showdown of the Open against 2020 Hobart International champion Elena Rybakina.
* Marton Fucsovics (HUN) v Jannik Sinner (ITA)
After ending the Open campaign of Australian qualifier Max Purcell in the first round, rising Italian star Sinner turns his attention to the challenge posed by Fucsovics. The Hungarian enjoyed his best-ever major run at Melbourne Park two years ago when he advanced to the round of 16. The 19-year-old Sinner shot to prominence with victory over Alex de Minaur in last year’s Next Gen final in Milan and has had the great Roger Federer singing his praises this week.
* 31-Hubert Hurkacz (POL) v John Millman (AUS)
Buckle up as this could be a long one. Hurkacz has enjoyed a strong start to 2020 with six wins from seven matches including a semi-final run in Auckland and a win over world No.5 Dominic Thiem at the ATP Cup. The Pole has sliced his ranking from No.238 to No.31 in two years and is one to watch. Veteran Millman is Australia’s brick wall and he’s also constructed a nice 2020 start that included an Auckland quarter-final and a victory over No.16 Karen Khachanov. Hurkacz survived a five-setter in round one and marathon man Millman may fancy his chances if this goes the distance.
* 23- Dayana Yastremska (UKR) v Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
It’s once more with feeling for Wozniacki whose career will be over with a loss here given she’s already announced her retirement after the Australian Open. The 2018 champion enjoyed a breezy start to her last grand slam with a straight-sets win over Kristie Ahn. Yastremska should enjoy slight favouritism here however, after a cracking run through to the Adelaide final where she went down to Ashleigh Barty. She was impressive in her first-round win over Kaja Juvan and also won her only other encounter with Wozniacki at last year’s Cincinnati Masters.
* 12-Fabio Fognini (ITA) v Jordan Thompson (AUS)
A showdown with Thompson may come as some welcome relief for the mercurial Italian after he had to withstand a 35-ace barrage and being down two sets to love before beating Reilly Opelka in the opening round. Thompson had a much easier time of things in his straight-sets win over Alexander Bublik. There’s a significant difference between the Italian’s best and his worst however and the nagging Thompson, who hasn’t passed the second round here in six previous attempts, could certainly capitalise if Fognini isn’t on his game in their first meeting.