Ricky’s picks for Day 4 of the Australian Open, including Ruud vs. Mensik

We’re rolling into spherical two of the Australian Open, the place Casper Ruud is amongst these taking the courtroom on Wednesday. Ruud faces a tricky check within the type of Jakub Mensik. Different matches to look at are Tommy Paul vs. Kei Nishikori, Jack Draper vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Tomas Machac vs. Reilly Opelka.

Listed here are my picks for 2 of Wednesday’s finest matchups.

(6) Casper Ruud vs. Jakub Mensik

Ruud is ranked significantly increased than Mensik, however this first-ever assembly between the 2 gamers is with out query a blockbuster battle. Why? Effectively, Mesik is among the tour’s rising stars–don’t overlook about him simply due to the rise of Joao Fonseca. Mensik surged to forty eighth within the rankings final season and thus far in 2025 he has superior to back-to-back quarterfinals in Hong Kong on the earth with 25 main-tour match wins in 2024 and he’s off to a robust begin this season. Mensik reached back-to-back quarterfinals in Brisbane and Auckland, after which he disposed of Nikoloz Basilashvili within the Aussie Open first spherical.

It has been an excellent begin to the yr for Ruud, too. The world No. 6 posted United Cup wins for Poland over Tomas Machac and Hubert Hurkacz, which was adopted by a five-set survival towards Jaume Munar on Sunday afternoon. A win is a win, however the stage of play in spherical one was not notably encouraging. Ruud is certainly on upset alert with a harmful opponent on the opposite aspect of the web

Choose: Mensik in 4

Kei Nishikori vs. (12) Tommy Paul

Like Ruud, Paul and Nishikori are coming off five-setters. Paul struggled with a left-shoulder concern however managed to get previous Christopher O’Connell 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(5), 7-5. Nishikori, already a five-set legend, saved two match factors earlier than beating Thiago Monteiro 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

No matter Paul’s shoulder standing, he’s a way more dependable participant than Nishikori from a bodily standpoint. The American can be 27 years previous; Nishikori is 35-year-old with an unlimited historical past of bodily issues. Anticipating the Japanese veteran to bounce again in type from a five-set battle might be unrealistic. Paul ought to have the sting on Wednesday.

Choose: Paul in 4

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.