2021 Australian Open First Round – Tennys Sandgren vs Alex de Minaur Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Tennys Sandgren vs Alex de Minaur taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Tennys Sandgren vs Alex de Minaur on and what time does it start? Tuesday 9th February, 2021 – not before 05:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Tennys Sandgren vs Alex de Minaur? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Tennys Sandgren vs Alex de Minaur 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 Tennys Sandgren vs Alex de Minaur 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
TENNYS SANDGREN
- World number 51 Tennys Sandgren seems to be in poor form after an outburst and a smashed racket saw him just edge past John-Patrick Smith at last week’s Great Ocean Road Open before losing to Salvatore Caruso in the second round.
- The sometimes controversial American is normally a Grand Slam battler who saves his best performances for the limelight, with a five-set quarter-final defeat to Roger Federer here last year the perfect example.
ALEX DE MINAUR
- 21-year-old Alex de Minaur looked good at last week’s ATP Cup without winning any matches for Team Australia against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roberto Bautista Agut.
- The world number 23 has already won a tournament in 2021 when he claimed his fourth career title at last month’s Antalya Open, beating David Goffin along the way.
THE PREDICTION
America’s Tennys Sandgren is seemingly in no fit state mentally to trouble the world number 23 here Alex de Minaur. Sandgren has a penchant for not giving up when it counts at Grand Slams where he has arguably over-achieved in the past, although it is fairer to suggest that he struggles to turn it on at the smaller tournaments on tour. Even if Sandgren was at his best, Alex de Minaur will have the backing of an adoring Australian home crowd and the youngster has already won a title this year at last season’s Antalya Open. Though he was beaten twice at the ATP Cup, the practice against some of the best will do him good. De Minaur is a fast starter, so picking him to win the first set is usually a winner. You could combine that with a win by any number of sets for the 21-year-old here, considering Sandgren has it in him to take this all the way.
