Talented players Jannik Sinner and Sebastian Korda begin their Australian Open journey in 2025 with their first round matches. Here at Last Word on Tennis we have predictions for every first-round match as the Grand Slam down under begins.

We split the rest of Monday’s matches in Melbourne between six other articles. They feature Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Shevchenko, Fabio Fognini vs Grigor Dimitrov, Novak Djokovic vs Nishesh Basavareddy, Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alex Michelsen, Arthur Rinderknech vs Frances Tiafoe, and Nick Kyrgios vs Jacob Fearnley. Who do you think will advance to Round 2?

Australian Open Day 2 Predictions

Francisco Comesana vs Daniel Altmaier

Steen Kirby: Altmaier has been struggling for a while, Comesana is a strong Challenger Tour player who is stepping up to this level at age 24. At a career high ranking with 3 Challenger Tour titles last year, Comesana has every chance to get through this match even though Altmaier might be a slight favorite on this surface. His current form is disappointing.
Prediction: Comesana in 4

Liam McBride:

Damian Kust: That’s a wild hard-court Slam match and one of these players will advance to the second round on a good draw. Comesana produced some Grand Slam upsets last year thanks to his defensive slice, but Altmaier won’t be attacking him like Rublev or Humbert did. Good serving still might help and maybe his dynamic forehand + net play get more space to shine.
Prediction: Comesana in 5

Sebastian Korda vs Lukas Klein

Steen: A finalist in Adelaide who won 32 matches on the ATP Tour last season, the former AO quarterfinalist Korda is a heavy favorite in this match. Klein was solid in qualifying and has shown signs of talent but he looks a long way off from winning a match like this out of the gate.
Prediction: Korda in 3

Liam: Despite positive showings on tour, since his run to the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinal, it’s been a series of disappointments for Sebastian Korda. He looked sharp in Adelaide, where he reached the final, and ultimately he will be too much for Klein. Nevertheless, history tells us that we shouldn’t hold our breath for a long run.
Prediction: Korda in 3

Damian: Klein was deadly in Australia last year with a second-round loss to Zverev that saw him controlling the rallies pretty much throughout the five high-level sets. Korda just came back from a long injury break and with that abdominal issue flaring up in the Adelaide final, it might be game over for him here.
Prediction: Klein in 5

David Goffin vs Benjamin Bonzi

Steen: Bonzi won an ATP Title last year in Metz and was a strong player on the Challenger Tour, he has had some success at this tournament and is good on this surface. The 28-year-old is taking on 34-year-old Goffin, who has nearly returned to the top 50, Goffin’s best result at this tournament was the quarterfinals, but his form looks far off from matching that achievement. Bonzi can pull an upset in Round 1.
Prediction: Bonzi in 5

Liam: This has a battle written all over it. Bonzi can be a tricky customer as can Goffin, who despite being past his best continues to show spurts of momentary brilliance. The Belgian reached the last 32 of the US Open and will be looking to dominate the backhand exchanges. With slightly less power and speed than before, he still owns great consistency, which will prove the difference maker.
Prediction: Goffin in 5

Damian: Goffin started the season with two blowout losses and it’s tough to say if he can find some form before the big date. Bonzi on the other hand is losing to quality opposition, but is winning the matches you expect him to with similar achievements in Brisbane and Adelaide (main draw second round from qualifying). He’s in better shape right now.
Prediction: Bonzi in 4

Jannik Sinner vs Nicolas Jarry

Steen: Jarry reached two finals last year (both on clay), and has shown at times he’s one of the best players on tour, but he much prefers the clay and faces a very difficult round 1 match against Sinner, who has almost every advantage. Sinner put together one of the greatest ATP seasons of all time last year, winning 74 matches, can anyone stop him this year? I don’t see it being in the first round of the Australian Open.
Prediction: Sinner in 3

Liam: For the first time in his career, Jannik Sinner will be defending a Grand Slam title. It’ll be interesting to see how he deals with a different type of pressure altogether. Something tells you though, it won’t have too much an effect on him. Despite all Jarry’s best efforts, this won’t be much of a contest.
Prediction: Sinner in 3

Damian:
Sinner was a monster in 2024 and that makes us think it’s an easy draw. In reality, Jarry is one of the most imposing and dangerous rivals among the unseeded players. But the Italian was so good last year that it likely doesn’t matter, especially as his floor and efficiency shouldn’t really drop all that much anytime soon.
Prediction: Sinner in 3

Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports