Miomir Kecmanovic vs Jan-Lennard Struff Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Australian Open

Prediction published on 16/01/2024, 13:49  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 16/01/2024 at 14:50 in ATP Australian Open Predictions

24th seed Jan-Lennard Struff takes on unseeded Miomir Kecmanovic in round two of the Australian Open. Whoever gets through will face either the 14th seed Tommy Paul or unseeded Jack Draper. Struff first played in this Grand Slam in 2013 and he's still waiting to play in the third round. Eight of his last nine appearances have seen him lose in the first round. It very nearly happened again this year as he had to go to five sets to beat Rinky Hijikata. He dropped the first set, won the next two but his dogged opponent won a fourth set tie-break. The final set also went to a tie-break with Struff winning it 10-8 to win his first match here since 2018. After that victory, Struff is up to 24th in the live rankings.

Miomir Kecmanovic was ranked 60th at the start of this tournament but is up to 53rd after his first round win. He also lost the first set of his opener but then won the next three sets against Yosuke Watanuki. The Serb made it to the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2022 but this is only his third time past round one. Kecmanovic must have been delighted to beat Watanuki as it ended a run of four consecutive first round losses in Grand Slam events. He's won three of his five matches played this year and could get a chance of revenge on Jack Draper in round three as the Brit beat him in Adelaide last week. We tip him to beat Struff.