Australian Open: Murray vs Kokkinakis Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Andy Murray takes on Thanasi Kokkinakis in the Round of 64 on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

After his stunning five-set win in the first round, Andy Murray’s draw is not getting any easier. The Scotsman will play in-form home favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis in another mouthwatering early showdown at the Australian Open. Who will prevail?

Andy Murray has had his fair share of heartbreaking defeats at the Australian Open and particularly at Rod Laver Arena, reaching multiple finals and of course, who can forget his 2019 ‘retirement match’ against Roberto Bautista Agut which he lost in five sets. And it almost felt, as good as Murray had played against Matteo Berrettini, those bruising memories would resurface again once the Italian leveled the match from two sets to love down. But Berrettini fumbled on a match point, and Murray finally got the lucky break he needed at Melbourne Park, going on to beat the Italian in a dramatic 10-point tiebreak in the fifth. Could Murray conjure another upset when he faces the much-fancied Thanasi Kokkinakis?

As Australian players continue to tumble like flies, Thanasi Kokkinakis is not going away anytime soon after his devastating performance to oust Italy’s Fabio Fognini in a match that was completed in two days due to rain interruptions on Tuesday. Kokkinakis, however, was in a position of total control when he set foot on the court on Wednesday to finish the match, taking a mere three minutes to book his spot in the second round against his mentor Andry Murray.

Andy Murray leads Thanasi Kokkinakis 1-0 in their head-to-head. That match took place eight years ago in a Davis Cup rubber which Murray won in straight sets. But that won’t be a factor in his match. Murray’s win over Berrettini is a timely reminder that class is permanent and he can still deliver and grind out wins purely due to his battling qualities and talent. But I think this may be a step too far for him to play a fit and fresher opponent. Kokkinakis is playing the best tennis of his life right now, and the fact that he is Australian’s best hope of making it to the second week of the Australian Open will only fuel Kokkinakis’ desire to get one over a man he calls his mentor.