Hubert Hurkacz vs Sebastian Korda Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Australian Open

Prediction published on 21/01/2023, 05:33  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 21/01/2023 at 14:20 in Tennis Predictions

29th seeded Sebastian Korda bids to beat a second top ten seed in this year's Australian Open. The American faces tenth seeded Hubert Hurkacz for a place in the quarter finals. Whoever wins this match will face either 18th seeded Karen Khachanov or the 31st seed Yoshihito Nishioka. Korda began this week ranked 31st but is up to a career high 28th in the live rankings and can climb another three places if beating Hurkacz. Korda has already had a successful 2023 and reached the final of the first of the two International tournaments losing to Novak Djokovic. That run to the final included wins over Andy Murray, Roberto Bautista Agut and possible quarter final opponent here, Yoshihito Nishioka. His good form has continued in this Australian Open with a four set win over Christian Garin and a straight sets victory against qualifier Yosuke Watanuki. He then beat seventh seeded Daniil Medvedev in three sets, two of which went to a tie-break. This is his first time past the third round of the Australian Open.

Hubert Hurkacz has been having a tough time so far in the 2023 Australian Open. He beat Pedro Martinez in the first round, only losing six games but it's been a different story since then. Both of his matches since then have gone to a final set. Hurkacz was two sets to one down against Lorenzo Sonego in the second round but made it through to get through to round three of the Australian Open for the first time. It looked as if his third round match against the 20th seed Denis Shapovalov would be more straightforward. He won the first two sets but then only won five games in the next two. The final set was won 6-3 by Hurkacz to clinch his place in the last 16. A win here will see him in a Grand Slam quarter final for only the second time and the first on a hard court. The only previous meeting between the pair was a win for Hurkacz in the 2021 Delray Beach Open final. Korda was only ranked 119th at that time. The American has improved since then and can get the win over Hurkacz.