2020 Australian Open – Guido Pella vs Fabio Fognini Preview & Prediction

THE FACTS

Where is Guido Pella vs Fabio Fognini taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne

When is Guido Pella vs Fabio Fognini on and what time does it start? Friday 24th January, 2020 – not before 04:45 (UK)

What is the expected weather for Guido Pella vs Fabio Fognini? Partly cloudy, 24c

What channel is Guido Pella vs Fabio Fognini on? The 2020 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match

Where can I stream Guido Pella vs Fabio Fognini 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

Where can I get tickets for Guido Pella vs Fabio Fognini? Click here to reach the official 2020 Australian Open ticket selection

Who won the last meeting between Guido Pella and Fabio Fognini? Guido Pella beat Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-2

THE LOWDOWN

GUIDO PELLA

• 29-year-old Guido Pella successfully navigated what could have been a potential second-round banana skin when beating Gregoire Barrere in four sets, but five double faults is a little cause for concern.
• The Argentine came through the first round of the men’s doubles alongside Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas on Thursday but fatigue should be manageable in the first week of the tournament.
• Pella holds a 2-1 head-to-head record over his next opponent, Fabio Fognini, but the pair have not played each other since 2017 and all three matches have come on clay.

FABIO FOGNINI

• Fabio Fognini put on quite the spectacle alongside Australia’s Jordan Thompson in a five-set marathon match that took just over four hours to fall the Italian’s way 10-4 (in a championship tiebreak).
• Fognini made a staggering 77 unforced errors in that match and it is a wonder that he made it through but the firebrand Italian has a knack for clutch wins in spite of, or perhaps because of, his flagrant attitude.
• That can be seen in his 70 winners to Jordan Thompson’s 36, with the world number 12’s clear talent on court obvious and his Grand Slam matches are never dull as a result.

THE PREDICTION

This should be a fascinating match between two players at the peak of their powers and it could be another long-haul match for 12th seed Fabio Fognini after his four-hour slog with Jordan Thompson. The Aussie was exactly the kind of battler that can get Fognini’s gears grinding and the Italian grazed his knuckles punching his racket on numerous occasions in that frustrating win, but the victory could set him up for another here. Guido Pella will not go away quietly but Fognini just shades this third-round match with his fires still burning.