The scorching conditions at Melbourne Park will certainly test the players on Day 7, and Ben Shelton is one player that could have a fight on his hands.<\/p>\n
Ben Shelton is awfully short in this third-round match with miracle man Valentin Vacherot.<\/p>\n
Over the last 12 months, Vacherot\u2019s service points and return points won are better than the American\u2019s against top-20 opposition, and even stronger against top-100 opposition.<\/p>\n
Shelton probably gets the job done and is a proven performer at Grand Slams, but Vacherot will challenge the American.<\/p>\n
This is a third-round gimme for Karen Khachanov when he faces clay-courter Luciano Darderi.<\/p>\n
Darderi beat Baez in the second round, with the Argentine finally running out of legs after a huge lead-up and a five-setter in the opening round.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no way the Italian will challenge Khachanov in this.<\/p>\n
An impressive performance by Mensik against rising star Jodar. He now faces Ethan Quinn, who he\u2019s got recent experience against.<\/p>\n
The Czech beat him twice last year without dropping a set. It was comfortable at the Cincinnati Masters with a 6-4 6-2 victory.<\/p>\n
Quinn has done well on paper, and taking nothing away from the American, but Griekspoor was in putrid form leading in, while Hurkacz was spent after returning from a long lay-off.<\/p>\n
Casper Ruud was too good on Day 5 when he beat Munar in straight sets, with us requiring the match to go to at least four sets. That being said, I do think Marin Cilic takes a set against the Norwegian here.<\/p>\n
Cilic is yet to drop a set this tournament, dismantling Shapovalov last match, and the night session will avoid the extreme heat for the veteran.<\/p>\n
Although Ruud probably gets it done, I can see this going to five.<\/p>\n