Australian Open 2021: Denis Shapovalov vs Jannik Sinner preview, head-to-head & prediction
Match details
Fixture: Denis Shapovalov vs Jannik Sinner
Date: 8 February 2021
Tournament: Australian Open 2021
Round: First round (Round of 128)
Venue: Melbourne, Australia
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: AUD $80 million
Match timing: Approx. 9 pm local time, 3.30 pm IST
Live telecast: USA - ESPN / Tennis Channel | India - Sony Six
Denis Shapovalov vs Jannik Sinner preview
The first round of the 2021 Australian Open will see two Next Gen stars - 11th seeded Denis Shapovalov and talented teenager Jannik Sinner - collide in a blockbuster matchup.
Shapovalov, who chose to give the warm-up tournaments a miss in favor of the ATP Cup, enters this contest looking for his first win of the new season. But against Sinner, he faces an incredibly daunting task.
Sinner, who is playing in just his second Australian Open main draw, started 2021 with a straight-sets loss at the Adelaide Exhibition. But the Italian youngster was quick to rebound from that.
Playing at the Great Ocean Road Open just days after his defeat, Sinner raced to a second career title while defeating the likes of Karen Khachanov and Stefano Travaglia en route.
The teenager showed incredible temperament throughout his week leading up to the tournament, upstaging his more fancied opponents in the tightest of situations. Perhaps most impressively, Sinner was an incredible 5/5 in tiebreakers.
He will now be looking for a repeat of the same in his match on Monday.
Denis Shapovalov vs Jannik Sinner head-to-head
Denis Shapovalov and Jannik Sinner have never played each other on the senior tour before, so their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Denis Shapovalov vs Jannik Sinner prediction
Denis Shapovalov enters this contest as a favorite, given his level of experience on the big stage as well as his higher seeding. But facing a younger in-form opponent on such a big stage is relatively new territory for the Canadian, and it will be interesting to see he he approaches the match.
Game-wise, there is very little separating the two. Both men have similarly aggressive and well-rounded games, and the result will likely come down to execution on the day.
Sinner's time on court over the last week would have given him a lot of confidence, but it does bring the fatigue factor into play. Shapovalov will look to turn this into a physical affair, and the Italian will need to be wary of that.
A good start, needless to say, will be key for Sinner. He cannot let Shapovalov find his footing and get too comfortable, or else he could end up paying a heavy price for it.
Prediction: Jannik Sinner to win in three tiebreaker sets.