Australian Open: Kubler vs Baez Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Jason Kubler takes on Sebastian Baez in the first round on Monday, January 16, 2023.

Jason Kubler will be under immense pressure to perform at his home slam. The wild card will battle Argentina’s clay-court specialist in what looks like a winnable opener. Will Kubler get his Australian Open campaign off to a winning start?

Jason Kubler played some inspired tennis in the early weeks of the 2023 season. He was called in to deputize for Nick Kyrgios at the United Cup and won both his matches against Dan Evans (a top 30 player) and Albert Ramos Vinolas (top 50). Kubler’s great performances during the 2022 season and his strong showing at the United Cup have definitely earned him a deserved wild card at the Australian Open. Will he repay back the tournament organizers with a big win against Sebastian Baez?

Sebastian Baez will know just how much pressure can get to Jason Kubler. The desperate need to perform in front of your home fans can at times affect your game. And Baez who is ranked higher than Kubler and with more Tour-level experience will sense this and could take advantage.

Jason Kubler and Sebastian Baez have not played each other on the ATP Tour. Monday’s match at the Australian Open will be their first official meeting. Kubler is the superior player on hard courts and has scored some confidence-boosting wins in the build-up to the year’s first Grand Slam. Expect the wild card to shock World No. 41 Baez.