2021 Australian Open First Round – Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Taylor Fritz Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Taylor Fritz taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Taylor Fritz on and what time does it start? Monday 8th February, 2021 – not before 02:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Taylor Fritz? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Taylor Fritz on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match
Where can I stream Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Taylor Fritz 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
THE LOWDOWN
ALBERT RAMOS-VINOLAS
- World number 46 Albert Ramos-Vinolas reached the second round of the Great Ocean Road Open this week before losing to France’s Corentin Moutet in straight sets.
- The 33-year-old reached the third round of the Australian Open in 2018 but has lost in two lengthy first round matches to Marton Fucsovics and Alex Bolt in the previous two years.
TAYLOR FRITZ
- World number 30 Taylor Fritz fell victim to an in-form Jeremy Chardy in the round of 16 of the Murray River Open, one of Melbourne Park’s six warm-up tournaments this week.
- Fritz reached the final of the Acapulco Open in February where he lost to Rafael Nadal before the coronavirus shut down and he cut a frustrated figure when the season was resumed.
THE PREDICTION
23-year-old Taylor Fritz has an ATP title to his name after winning the Eastbourne International in 2019 but he has seemed to struggle since that summer the year before last and he suffered a particularly poor 2020. The American has plenty of tools but his confidence looked shot after the restart of the season last August. Fritz has beaten Albert Ramos-Vinolas once before in straight sets at the 2017 Los Cabos Open, a tournament he reached the final of two seasons later to finish runner-up to Diego Schwartzman, but this match looks a difficult call considering how he ended last season. Ramos-Vinolas has plenty of experience and has won at least a set in two defeats at this stage in is last two appearances in Melbourne. World number 30 Fritz should be winning this one, eventually, but pick both players to claim a set in a Fritz win.
