Karen Khachanov vs Sebastian Korda Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Australian Open

Prediction published on 22/01/2023, 10:56  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 22/01/2023 at 17:59 in Tennis Predictions

Karen Khachanov bids to reach his second Grand Slam semi-final in a row. The 18th seed faces Sebastian Korda (seeded 29th) in this Australian Open quarter final. Whoever wins this match will take on either third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas (the highest seed left in the tournament) or unseeded JirI Lehecka. Khachanov began this tournament ranked 20th but has risen to 17th in the live list and can climb another four places if beating Korda. The past four years have seen the Russian lose in the third round of the Australian Open. This year is the first in which he's managed to get past that stage in Melbourne. Before this tournament he played in two warm-up events, getting to the quarter finals in the first of the Adelaide International tournaments. This week has seen him get some good wins, including beating the 16th seeded Frances Tiafoe. In the last 16, he won the first two sets against Yoshihito Nishioka without losing a game. It took him a third set tie-break to see off the 31st seed.

Sebastian Korda has already reached one final this year. He lost to Novak Djokovic in the first Adelaide International event. The American began the Australian Open ranked 31st in the world. He's now up to 25th and could be as high as 18th if winning this match. Korda had never made it past the third round of this tournament and this is his first Grand Slam quarter final. He's had lost three sets on his way to the last eight. That includes wins over Daniil Medvedev (seeded seventh) and in the last 16, the tenth seeded Hubert Hurkacz but needed a fifth set tie-break to do so. Already this year he's had wins over Roberto Bautista Agut, Andy Murray and Yoshihito Nishioka, so will be tough to beat here.  He's 2-1 up in previous matches against Khachanov with both his wins coming last year. The only win for Khachanov was achieved on grass at Wimbledon. Back Korda to win this.