Zhizhen Zhang vs Holger Rune Prediction & Picks - ATP Australian Open

Prediction published on 1/13/25, 4:17 AM  by Tyler Doty | Modified on 1/13/25 at 4:19 AM in ATP Australian Open Picks

Denmark's Holger Rune kicks off the Australian Open on Tuesday morning with a first-round match against China's Zhizhen Zhang.

After a difficult year in 2024, with inconsistent results at major tournaments, a declining level of play, and a drop out of the top 10 in the rankings, Holger Rune has been on the lookout for several months. But the Dane had finished the previous year well, with semi-finals in Basel and at the Paris Bercy Masters 1000, and will now want to attack 2025 in the same way he concluded the previous one. However, the Scandinavian missed out on his comeback two weeks ago in Brisbane with a first-round elimination against Jiri Lehecka. Since then, Holger Rune has been preparing in his own corner to arrive in Melbourne in good shape, and this Tuesday, the Dane will be able to test himself against Zhizhen Zhang.

The Chinese will already be a revealing first match for the Scandinavian. Ranked 49th on the ATP, the Asian tennis player had started 2024 well before collapsing as the year progressed, with 5 consecutive first-round eliminations. Have things changed in 2025? It seems not, as Zhizhen Zhang failed to get past the first round in Adelaide last week, falling to Denis Shapovalov. A disappointing start for the Chinese player, who arrives in Melbourne having lost 6 tournaments in a row.