Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Australian Open match.
Matteo Berrettini has spent significant time sidelined by injuries, but his commanding performance at the Davis Cup late last season suggests optimism for a strong showing in 2025. The Italian has a track record of starting well at majors, having won 82% of his opening round matches. Cameron Norrie ended 2024 with a finals appearance in Metz, though his recent form on hard courts lacks consistency. Norrie has lost seven out of 11 matches against higher-ranked opponents and struggles against big servers.
Matteo Berrettini
Berrettini's formidable serve and dominant forehand make him a challenging opponent on fast surfaces. Despite losing to Jordan Thompson in his first tournament of the year, he still displayed a strong level of play, winning 84% of points on his first serve. Historically, he has been a consistent starter in Grand Slams, with 18 wins out of 22 opening matches. The Italian faced Cameron Norrie back in 2021 and convincingly won in three sets (6:4; 6:7; 6:3).
Cameron Norrie
Norrie plays with a patient style, relying on drawing errors from his opponents. His left-handed forehand with high spin can be troublesome for adversaries, yet his flat backhand and less powerful serve limit his offensive potential. Notably, the Briton has suffered seven defeats in his last 11 hard-court contests against higher-ranked players. Recently, Norrie reached the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 in Hong Kong before unexpectedly losing to Facundo Diaz Acosta (2:6; 3:6), who is ranked 73rd.
Matteo Berrettini vs Cameron Norrie Prediction
Both the draw and conditions favour Berrettini. His effective serve and forehand should allow him to control the play, while Norrie is unlikely to impose his style on the fast courts. Berrettini has a history of strong starts at Grand Slams, whereas Norrie displays inconsistency against powerful opponents. Therefore, our bet is on a decisive victory for Berrettini.
