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Younger American Alex Michelsen will battle Russia’s Karen Khachanov for a spot within the Australian Open spherical of 16. Fellow American Ben Shelton may also be in motion on Saturday towards difficult Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
(19) Karen Khachanov vs. Alex Michelsen
Alex Michelsen, a 20-year-old upstart from the USA, is enjoying higher than his No. 42 rating would recommend. He has loved a very good begin to the season, with the largest win of his profession coming within the first spherical this week over world No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas. Michelsen is poised to make a giant ATP breakthrough in 2025.
Karen Khachanov has traditionally performed properly in Melbourne, however he faltered a bit final 12 months and he hasn’t been significantly spectacular to this point in 2025, both. The Russian did not win a match in his Australian Open tuneup occasion in Hong Kong earlier than beating Adrian Mannarino and Gabriel Diallo to earn his spot within the third spherical at Melbourne Park. That is one other potential early-round upset within the making, though it received’t be as surprising as Daniil Medvedev’s second-round exit to American teenager Learner Tien. Search for a prolonged battle, with Michelsen edging out the favourite.
Cheryl decide: Michelsen in 4
Ricky decide: Michelsen in 4
(16) Lorenzo Musetti vs. (21) Ben Shelton
Each Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti have labored laborious on the Australian Open this week. Shelton was pushed by fellow American Brandon Nakashima within the first spherical and he dropped a set to Pablo Carreno Busta within the second. The previous College of Florida star posted spectacular serving stats when it comes to aces and factors received towards Carreno Busta, however he served at 61 %; he might want to do higher than that towards Musetti.
Musetti has overwhelmed Shelton in each of their earlier encounters, however as regular for the American, the matches have been shut. As a result of the No. 21 seed has one of many hardest serves in all of tennis, outcomes are sometimes determined by tiebreakers. Musetti solely received one match in his tuneup occasion in Hong Kong; the Italian hasn’t essentially been at his finest but in 2025. This can be a good alternative for Shelton to notch his first win over the Moose.
Cheryl decide: Shelton in 5
Ricky decide: Musetti in 5
