Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Australian Open match.
Alex de Minaur, the eighth seed and Australia's top-ranked player, continues his campaign at his home Grand Slam. The 25-year-old has an excellent chance of replicating last year's result by reaching the Round of 16. His opponent, Francisco Cerundolo, has already surpassed his previous best performance, though he shows inconsistency on fast surfaces.
Francisco Cerundolo
The Argentine is regarded as a clay court specialist, and his performance on fast courts remains modest. Last season on hard courts, Francisco ended with a 7-12 record, and the start of 2025 is also unremarkable: a loss to Roberto Carballés Baena in Auckland (2:6, 5:7) and hard-fought victories in Melbourne against Alexander Bublik (7:6, 6:3, 6:2) and Facundo Díaz Acosta, who retired mid-match. Cerundolo often struggles against top-10 players, having lost four out of five such encounters without offering serious resistance.
Alex de Minaur
The Australian is having the best seasons of his career, solidifying his place in the world's top 10. In 2024, Alex boasted an impressive 24-6 hard court record, including a Masters final in Toronto and quarter-finals at Majors. At this Australian Open, Alex de Minaur comfortably dispatched Botic van de Zandschulp (6:1, 7:5, 6:4) and Emilio Nava (6:2, 6:4, 6:3), expending minimal energy. Notably, de Minaur has completed 22 hard court Major matches within four sets over the past three years. He also has a strong record against Argentinians, winning his last six encounters.
Francisco Cerundolo vs Alex de Minaur Prediction
Alex de Minaur significantly outshines Francisco Cerundolo in terms of consistency, versatility, and experience on fast courts. Given the Argentine's poor record against top players and his struggles at hard court tournaments, it is safe to say that Alex is the clear favourite.
