2021 Australian Open First Round – Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Sousa Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Sousa taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Sousa on and what time does it start? Monday 8th February, 2021 – not before 01:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Sousa? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Sousa 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 Stan Wawrinka vs Pedro Sousa 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
STAN WAWRINKA
- World number 18 Stan Wawrinka pulled out of his quarter-final match with Jeremy Chardy on Friday after beating both Mikhail Kukushkin and Alex Bolt in three sets to warm up for this tournament.
- 35-year-old Wawrinka will be one of a few non-Australian players who receives a lot of support at the Australian Open as a former champion back in 2014 and the Swiss reached the quarter-finals here last year.
PEDRO SOUSA
- 32-year-old Pedro Sousa lost in the second round of the Murray River Open to Dan Evans to enter the Australian Open with just two matches behind him since winning a Challenger title last December.
- World number 108 Sousa will play just his second Australian Open match and has been unlucky to meet another top player having lost to Alex de Minaur at this stage two years ago.
THE PREDICTION
There is little to suggest that Stan Wawrinka’s pulling out of the Murray River Open was nothing other than a damage limitation move after players were forced to play two matches in a day, with the 35-year-old hoping to maintain his energy for the Australian Open here. Wawrinka is a former champion and well-loved persona on tour who will enjoy the majority of support from the crowds here, unless of course he faces an Aussie. He has been handed a good opportunity to make it through in straight sets here against the world number 108 and Pedro Sousa is unlikely to be able to stop him in doing so.
