Mon Jan 19 11:30:00 UTC 2026: # Australian Open Day 2: Popyrin, Cilic, Opelka, and Shapovalov Matches in Focus
The Story:
Day 2 of the 2026 Australian Open features a packed schedule of men’s singles matches, with analysts from LastWordOnTennis offering their predictions. The article focuses on four specific matches: Alexei Popyrin vs. Alexandre Muller, Marin Cilic vs. Daniel Altmaier, Reilly Opelka vs. Budkov Kjaer, and Denis Shapovalov vs. Bu. The analysts provide varied perspectives, considering factors like player form, court surface, head-to-head records, and potential upsets.
Key Points:
- Alexei Popyrin vs. Alexandre Muller: Analysts favor Popyrin due to his powerful groundstrokes and suitability to the hard courts, emphasizing the home-crowd advantage.
- Marin Cilic vs. Daniel Altmaier: Cilic is predicted to win based on his overall skill advantage, although Altmaier’s backhand is considered a potential threat.
- Reilly Opelka vs. Budkov Kjaer: Opelka’s powerful serve is seen as a major advantage, making him the favorite despite Kjaer’s recent solid performance.
- Denis Shapovalov vs. Bu: This match is considered highly dependent on Shapovalov’s consistency, with analysts split on whether he can manage his errors and secure a win.
Key Takeaways:
- The 2026 Australian Open is showcasing a mix of established players and rising stars.
- Home-court advantage is a significant factor, influencing predictions in the Popyrin match.
- Serving power remains a crucial asset on hard courts, as highlighted in the Opelka analysis.
- Shapovalov’s match underscores the importance of consistency and error management in high-stakes tennis.
First Piper 