Three to See, Australian Open Day 2: Emma Raducanu vs. Sloane Stephens is an unpredictable battle of US Open champions

This is a duel between two US Open champions who aren’t bringing a lot of momentum to the year’s first major. Raducanu is recovering from a case of COVID-19, and was hustled off the court in a hurry last week in Sydney, 6-0, 6-1 by Elena Rybakina. It’s hard to imagine that was adequate, or confidence-building, preparation for a Slam. Stephens, meanwhile, hasn’t a played a match yet this year, and is just 1-2 since Flushing Meadows. Stephens is also prone to first-round losses at the Australian Open; she’s suffered five of them in her nine trips Down Under, and hasn’t won a match there since 2019.

The American and the Brit have never played, but whatever their form may be at the moment, they could make for an intriguingly unpredictable match-up. Raducanu likes to attack, and Stephens likes to defend. It will come down to who is on her game that day; hats off to whoever accurately guesses who that’s going to be. Winner: Stephens

Emma Raducanu earned plenty of attention for her play at Wimbledon and the US Open. She can expect even more at the Australian Open, now that she's a Grand Slam champion.

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Andy Murray vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili

Has Murray’s game turned the corner at last? After an uphill 2021, the 34-year-old has reached two finals, in Stockholm in November and in Sydney last week. The latter included a three-set win over his first-round opponent in Melbourne, Basilashvili. The Georgian reached the final of Indian Wells last fall, but he’s just 1-5 since. He’s an all-or-nothing ball blaster who is dangerous when he’s on. But staying on for three sets against the steady and versatile Murray will be a big ask. Winner: Murray

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Michael Ymer

When the Greek and the Swede met 12 months ago in the third round at the Australian Open, it didn’t go well for the Swede. Tsitsipas romped, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, which isn’t a surprise considering that he’s ranked No. 4 and Ymer is No. 82. But the fact that Ymer made the third round last year, and beat Hubert Hurkacz and Carlos Alcaraz to get there, should let us know that he can play on these courts. Tsitsipas is one of the young Slam hopefuls will could benefit most from a Djokovic withdrawal. We’ll see if he shows any extra nerves against a flashy and potentially dangerous opponent. Winner: Tsitsipas

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