2021 Australian Open Third Round – Fabio Fognini vs Alex de Minaur Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Fabio Fognini vs Alex de Minaur taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Fabio Fognini vs Alex de Minaur on and what time does it start? Saturday 13th February, 2021 – not before 09:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Fabio Fognini vs Alex de Minaur? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Fabio Fognini 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 Fabio Fognini 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
FABIO FOGNINI
- World number 17 Fabio Fognini won an incredible five-set battle against fellow Italian Salvatore Caruso by a mammoth last set tiebreak that eventually fell his way 14-12.
- The 16th seed was involved in s heated argument post-match with Caruso but players on tour will know to fear the 33-year-old when he is fuelled in that way.
ALEX DE MINAUR
- 21-year-old Alex de Minaur overcame a tough test in Pablo Cuevas to come through to the third round remarkably composed, coming back from a break in the third set to take it in three.
- The Aussie is the last remaining local hopeful in the Men’s Singles draw after Nick Kyrgios lost a five-set epic against Dominic Thiem on Friday night but he has never made it past the third round here.
THE PREDICTION
The lack of a crowd for at least the next five days of the Australian Open is a crushing blow to what has been an incredible reminder of how engaging spectator sport can be. It is sure to affect Alex de Minaur in this third round match as he tries to go one further than he ever has done before in Melbourne by reaching the round of 16 against the experience of Fabio Fognini. The Italian is rarely the crowd’s favourite in his matches and looks to be in fine form after his five-set slog with Salvatore Caruso. If he can get to grips with De Minaur’s speed around the court he should find some joy here. Fognini can find angles on court that very few others can when he’s on song but De Minaur is one of the fastest players on tour and should be able to chase more of them down than the Italian is used to. In this first meeting between the pair it could go either way but De Minaur to win the first set, as someone who almost always starts at 100%, and both players to take a set looks a useful combination to avoid a result here.
At a push, and without the crowd’s support, five sets should see the more experienced Fognini reach the round of 16.
