Before each day's play Down Under, we'll preview and predict three must-see matches.
The 18-year-old Canadian and the 32-year-old Frenchman have met once, at the US Open last year, and it was an ambush. Shapovalov, feeding off the night-match atmosphere at Flushing Meadows and leaping all over Arthur Ashe Stadium, broke out to an early lead; it took a sluggish Tsonga a good two-and-a-half sets to figure what had hit him. Shapovalov was also sharp in his opener on Monday, playing with more strength and easy power than he did last year. But while Tsonga is a notoriously slow starter, he shouldn’t be ambushed again. He should be motivated instead. Winner: Tsonga
After his title run at the US Open last year, Nadal pointed to his closer-than-it-looked third-round win over Mayer as the turning point. Mayer swung for the fences that day, and in the early going he connected. He won the first set, as a nervous Nadal couldn’t buy a break point. But all of that stress and strain, and all of the balls he was forced to hit, paid off in the end for Rafa. Once he broke through, he was home free for the rest of the tournament. Look for Mayer to swing for the fences again, and connect again; but look for Rafa to break through a little earlier this time. Winner: Nadal
