Just like in the women’s draw, the men’s draw has some incredibly interesting matchups in the first two rounds of the Australian Open which are must-watch TV. We have some unseeded top players that are not seeded in the draw which will cause mayhem. Let’s look at the potential upsets early on.

Round 2: Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Frances Tiafoe

This should be an entertaining match. Tiafoe is one of the most talented youngsters out there. Although his ranking has slipped in the last year, he is still easily a top 20 player. He’s got effortless power and athleticism. He’s got the ability to make some spectacular shots in pressure. Unfortunately for him, he’ll have the King of the Australian Open in front of him. Although Djokovic will come out on top, this will be an entertaining match.

Round 2: Nick Kyrgios vs. Ugo Humbert (29)

Nobody knows how healthy Kyrgios will be as he starts his Australian Open campaign. Nursing an injury on his left knee, he’ll need to be as healthy as possible if he wants to get through Ugo Humbert in the second round. The last time these two met was at the Mexican Open, where Kyrgios had to withdraw with an injury after losing the first set. Make no mistake, Humbert is a rising superstar, with a ton of game. Kyrgios is now the veteran with the massive serve and toolbox full of trick shots. Sparks can fly in this match.

Round 1: Jannik Sinner vs. Denis Shapovalov (11)

Shapovalov wishes he was on some other side of the draw right about now. He gets to play the kid everyone is talking about in the first round. Shapovalov, although just 21, looks like a seasoned veteran compared to Sinner, who is still a teenager at 19 years of age. Sinner has been taking the tennis world by storm in recent months, making it to the quarterfinals of the French Open and capturing the Sofia Open. Shapovalov is a shot maker and Sinner is a rising shot maker. Hold on to your seats!

Round 1: Tennys Sandgren vs. Alex de Minaur (21)

Sandgren always seems to do well at the Australian Open, he was a quarterfinalist in both 2018 and 2020. As dangerous as he is at the Australian Open, he’ll have to contend with Australia’s highest-ranked player, de Minaur. De Minaur is crafty and speedy, while Sandgren brings brute force and will. De Minaur will need to be moving well from the very start to withstand Sandgren’s power.

Round 1: Marin Cilic vs. Grigor Dimtrov (18)

Marin Cilic is a former US Open Champion (2014) and Wimbledon (2017) and Australian Open finalist (2018). Unfortunately, the results have dipped in the last couple of years. Don’t be fooled though, he still has the game to beat anybody in the world on the right day. Dimitrov will certainly be tested in this first-round match and may very well come out in the losing end. He has been posting average results since the restart of the tour.

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