The last week before the Australian Open will begin with Zhizhen Zhang facing Denis Shapovalov on Monday in Adelaide. Yoshihito Nishioka and Thanasi Kokkinakis are also taking the court for first-round action.

Denis Shapovalov vs. (9) Zhizhen Zhang

Zhang and Shapovalov will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in round one of the Adelaide International on Monday. Their only previous meeting did not disappoint, as it required a final-set tiebreaker–with Zhang prevailing 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(1) at the 2023 Madrid Masters.

This is a tough matchup to predict, because both guys are wildly talented but also extremely inconsistent. Of the two, Shapovalov picked up more momentum at the end of 2024. The 56th-ranked Canadian qualified in Shanghai, reached the Basel quarterfinals, and won the Belgrade title as a qualifier. He lost to Kei Nishikori in the Hong Kong opening round this past week, but Nishikori eventually finished runner-up–so that isn’t a terrible result. Zhang wrapped up his season on a six-match losing streak, so Shapovalov should have the edge in this one.

Pick: Shapovalov in 2

Yoshihito Nishioka vs. (WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis

Adelaide has to be considered Kokkinakis’ favorite spot on tour. The 28-year-old Australian has treated the home crowd to a runner-up performance (2022) and two semifinal showings. Kokkinakis should be poised for more success this year, as he ended 2024 with a Challenger title in Sydney followed by a couple of encouraging Davis Cup matches (beat Ben Shelton, lost to Matteo Berrettini in three sets).

Up first for the world No. 77 on Monday is a second showdown against Nishioka and first in more than a decade. Their only previous encounter came 11 years ago in U.S. Open qualifying, where the Japanese left-handed got the job done 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. Nishioka played pretty well this past week in Brisbane, getting four matches under his belt (two wins in qualifying) before falling to eventual champion Jiri Lehecka. Will the world No. 69 from Japan be motivated to put forth another big effort prior to the Australian Open? Maybe not. Regardless, Kokkinakis will likely have the upper hand at home.

Pick: Kokkinakis in 3