2021 Australian Open First Round – Karen Khachanov vs Aleksandar Vukic Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Karen Khachanov vs Aleksandar Vukic taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Karen Khachanov vs Aleksandar Vukic on and what time does it start? Tuesday 9th February, 2021 – not before 02:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Karen Khachanov vs Aleksandar Vukic? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Karen Khachanov vs Aleksandar Vukic on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match
Where can I stream Karen Khachanov vs Aleksandar Vukic in the UK? Sky customers can stream this match on the Sky Go app. Alternatively, the match can be streamed to subscribers of Eurosport Player, either on the official website or as an add-on to an Amazon Prime subscription
THE LOWDOWN
KAREN KHACHANOV
- Karen Khachanov has work to do in 2021 after a torrid run of form at the end of last season that has seen him continue to slide further and further away from his career-high ranking of eighth achieved in the summer of 2019.
- There are signs the 24-year-old has turned a corner in 2021 after he reached the quarter-finals of the Great Ocean Road Open before losing to its eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
ALEKSANDAR VUKIC
- World number 196 Aleksandar Vukic also lost to Jannik Sinner at last week’s Great Ocean Road Open to start this Grand Slam with a 1-1 record for 2021.
- 24-year-old Vukic has made the cut at the Australian Open at the third time of trying and has only played in one other first round Grand Slam match, losing to Pedro Martinez at last year’s Roland-Garros.
THE PREDICTION
World number 20 Karen Khachanov showed signs of a return to some kind of form last week at one of Melbourne Park’s warm-up events and he should be able to settle into the tournament here against Aleksandar Vukic. Australian Vukic will be backed well by the home crowd here but Khachanov is a patient, baseline battler who does not seem to need the crowd’s approval as much as others. The Russian had a terrible time of it last year and could do with a straightforward victory, though it seems like a set could be available here for the plucky Aussie. Both to take a set in a shaky but vital Khachanov win looks reasonable here.
