Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Australian Open match.
Novak Djokovic is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title. The Serbian finds himself in a challenging part of the draw, so it's crucial for him to gradually find his rhythm to be ready for top-tier opponents at the crucial stages of the tournament. Meanwhile, Tomáš Macháč has already exceeded expectations by reaching the third round. A victory over Djokovic would be the most significant achievement of his career, and he will do everything possible to trouble the favourite.
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic is currently ranked seventh in the world, and his start to the tournament has not been flawless. In the opening two rounds, the Serbian dropped a set to his opponents, albeit winning both matches with at least a five-game margin. Across these two matches, Novak recorded 37 aces and won an average of 76% of points on his first serve. It's worth noting that in Melbourne, Djokovic has consistently won with a margin of five or more games in 15 of his last 17 matches.
Tomáš Macháč
Macháč is experiencing the best phase of his career, having climbed to 25th in the world rankings. However, his track record against top-10 players is bleak, with only four wins in 18 encounters. In the second round, Macháč defeated Reilly Opelka in a gruelling five-set match (3:6, 7:6, 6:7, 7:6, 6:4), which considerably exhausted him. Interestingly, that game was atypical for the Czech, as he rarely extends matches in Grand Slams; in five of his last six encounters, he has either won or lost in straight sets. The Serbian and Czech met on hard court in February 2023, where Novak emerged victorious (6:3, 3:6, 7:6).
Novak Djokovic vs Tomáš Macháč Prediction
Djokovic is gradually reaching his peak form, as he is set to face a tough draw going forward. Macháč has displayed good play at the start of the tournament, but fatigue and a lack of consistency, compared to Novak's experience and class, will be crucial factors. The Serbian knows how to dismantle such opponents, and it's unlikely the Czech will present any surprises. We are backing a win for Djokovic.
