Australian Open: Nishioka vs Ymer Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Yoshihito Nishioka takes on Mikael Ymer in the Round of 128 on Monday, January 16, 2023.

The big question in everyone’s mind is whether Yoshihito Nishioka will be match fit for this first-round match at the 2023 Australian Open. On paper, the Japanese star will be facing a dangerous unseeded player and will need to overcome the recent leg injury that caused him to retire in Adelaide. Will Nishioka prevail against talented Mikael Ymer?

Yoshihito Nishioka will be playing in the main draw of the 2023 Australian Open for the eighth time. Nishioka has been to the third round once, back in 2020 as an unseeded player. However, this year, he is among the Top 32 seeds after laying down the foundation last year in his career-best year on Tour. But there is an injury cloud coming into his match against Mikael Ymer. He retired hurt in his semifinal match in Adelaide 1 two weeks back, and we are unsure if his fully fit for this encounter.

Mikael Ymer, meanwhile, does not have any injury concerns, although he will be scrutinizing his game in the wake of his 6-1 6-2 defeat to Soonwoo Kwon in Adelaide 2. It was a really bad defeat after such a promising week in which he qualified for the event and beat the likes of Ruusuvuori and McDonald. But then again, Kwon was in terrific form and won that tournament in the end, so Ymer shouldn’t be too down on himself.

Yoshihito Nishioka and Mikael Ymer have not played each on the ATP Tour. Monday’s match at the Australian Open will be their first official meeting. I think this match will depend on whether Nishioka has recovered from his injury. Ymer is no slouch, he has got terrific movement and athletic ability to grind out points and win. Nishioka has had his fair share of poor performances in the past two seasons at the Australian Open and his body might let him down here.