Australian Open: Hurkacz vs Martinez Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Hubert Hurkacz takes on Pedro Martinez in the Round of 128 on Monday, January 16, 2023.

Hubert Hurkacz will look to change the tide as far as his record at the Australian Open is concerned. He has a winnable opening match against Spanish clay courter Pedro Martinez. Will the Pole prevail?

After making such a bright start to the United Cup campaign for the Polish team, Hubert Hurkacz lost a crucial singles rubber that almost effectively ended their hopes of reaching the final. Hurkacz lost Taylor Fritz in two tiebreak sets as Poland ended up losing to the eventual champions USA in the semifinals. The 25-year-old will look to make amends when he arrives at the 2023 Australian Open, taking on Pedro Martinez in the first round.

Pedro Martinez has actually been to the third round of the Australian Open before. Something that Hubert Hurkacz is yet to do, despite having a lower pedigree on hard courts than the Pole. Martinez reached that stage in 2021, beating Yoshihito Nishioka and Emil Ruusuvuori before losing to Dusan Lajovic. Could he emulate that run?

Hubert Hurkacz leads the head-to-head over Pedro Martinez 2-0. On hard courts, Hurkacz won a US Open qualifying match back in 2018, and defeated the Spaniard more recently at the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters in three sets. While Hurkacz’s record at the Australian Open is not one you would hang your hat on, he should be expected the overpower Martinez on this quick surface.