The second round action at the Australian Open 2025 kick-starts on Wednesday, January 15 as Alexander Zverev faces Pedro Martinez and Tommy Paul takes on Kei Nishikori for their second round matches. Here’s the preview, predictions and tips for these matches from Melbourne.
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Alexander Zverev v Pedro Martinez Preview
Head-to-Head: Their only previous meeting came at the 2024 Hamburg Open and Zverev had beaten Martinez in the semifinals there.
If there were any doubts around Alexander Zverev’s fitness after he had withdrawn from the United Cup following two matches, those were laid to rest in his opener.
Zverev came away a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 winner over Lucas Pouille in his first round match here at the Australian Open. In a match that lasted two hours and 22 minutes, Zverev saved both the break-points he face while getting the better of his opponent’s serve once in each of the three sets.
The German, who had earlier defeated Zhizhen Zhang and Thiago Monteiro in the United Cup, frittered away 15 break-point opportunities, something he would like to be mindful of.
Pedro Martinez was leading Luciano Darderi 6-3, 4-1 when his opponent opted out of the contest with some fitness-related concerns. This meant that Martinez had made past the opener here for the fourth time in seven attempts.
Unfortunately for Martinez, his record in hardcourt competitions is anything but exemplary and the second seed could feast on his weak play.
Zverev v Martinez prediction: Zverev to win in straight sets: 2/5
Tommy Paul v Kei Nishikori Preview
Head-to-Head: Paul’s only match against Nishikori came at the 2017 Washington Open. Nishikori had won that to move into the semifinals.
Having gone into his opener as a whopping 1/6 favourite against Christopher O’Connell, Tommy Paul just about scraped through to the second round after four hours and two minutes.
Paul looked to be in control when he took a two sets to one lead by winning the third 6-1 but O’Connell refused to fade away even as the American served for the match at 5-4. He was broken and then lost the set in the tie-breaker.
The world number 11 then missed two break-points and was forced to save three of his own before breaking the Aussie to love in the 12th game to squeeze through.
What makes this second round battle interesting is that Kei Nishikori is himself coming off a five-set win over Thiago Monteiro. Monteiro was two sets to love up but then came back to win the next three to seal his next round spot.
Coincidentally, Nishikori was on court for four hours and two minutes, in turn registering his fifth win of the season from six matches.
We could see another close encounter with both players expected to win sets here.
Paul v Nishikori prediction: Paul to win AND Both players to win a set: 6/4
