Ugo Humbert vs David Goffin Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Australian Open

Prediction published on 13/01/2024, 14:28  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 13/01/2024 at 15:28 in ATP Australian Open Predictions

21st seeded Ugo Humbert begins his Australian Open campaign with a first round match against qualifier David Goffin. Whoever wins this match will face unseeded opposition in the second round, either Zhang Zhizhen or Federico Coria. Humbert will be hoping to end a poor run of form in Grand Slam events having been beaten in the first round of the last two he's played. He did better in Australia last year making it to the third round, his best ever run in this tournament. Humbert is 20th in the live rankings and that equals his career high. The French player won his first match of the year in Brisbane and then pulled out of his scheduled last 16 match against Jordan Thompson. Humbert had a good end to last year and won the hard court Moselle Open in November. This is his third match against Goffin and the score is level at 1-1 but this is their first match on a hard court.

David Goffin was ranked as high as seventh but that was seven years ago. He is currently down at 112th in the live rankings and had to qualify to get into this main draw. He didn't have an easy time of it dropping sets in his last two qualifiers and having to come from behind to get past Gabriel Diallo. Goffin missed this tournament last year and hasn't won a match here since 2020. Only two main draw matches were won by Goffin in Grand Slam events last year, all at Wimbledon on grass. This year has seen the Belgian play in a Challenger Tour event in Brisbane, losing in the last eight to Dominik Koepfer. We tip Humbert to progress into the second round.