2021 Australian Open Second Round – Casper Ruud vs Tommy Paul Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Casper Ruud vs Tommy Paul taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Casper Ruud vs Tommy Paul on and what time does it start? Thursday 11th February, 2021 – not before TBC (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Casper Ruud vs Tommy Paul? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Casper Ruud vs Tommy Paul 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 Casper Ruud vs Tommy Paul 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
CASPER RUUD
- 22-year-old Casper Ruud is the 24th seed here in Melbourne and was handed an easy time if it in his first round match with Jordan Thompson as the Aussie was forced to retire in the third set.
- The world number 28 has matched his best showing at the Australian Open with this second round stage but on clay the Norwegian is a different animal, requiring Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem to beat him in two Roland-Garros third rounds over the last three years.
TOMMY PAUL
- Tommy Paul beat the ailing Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round of the Australian Open, including an impressive 7-0 tiebreak against the Georgian in the second set.
- The world number 53 enjoyed the best win of his career at this stage last season when he beat Grigor Dimitrov here in five gruelling sets, though he ran out of steam against Marton Fucsovics in the third round.
THE PREDICTION
Tommy Paul was the victor via walkover in the first meeting of two with Casper Ruud, way back at the Citi Open in 2017. However, last season Ruud was victorious at this very stage of Roland-Garros in a five set thriller and we can hope for more of the same here between two promising young players. Both to take a set here seems almost a given and Tommy Paul will be aware of his efforts at this stage last season against Grigor Dimitrov. On the clay this match would favour Casper Ruud but Paul has proven himself at this level at the Australian Open and possibly edges this encounter. For want of a tricky result, choose both to take a set here and perhaps leave it there. At a push, the American has previous of upsetting the odds at the Australian Open.
