2021 Australian Open Third Round – Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne
When is Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz on and what time does it start? Friday 12th February, 2021 – not before 09:15 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection
What channel is Novak Djokovic 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 Novak Djokovic 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
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
- World number one Novak Djokovic did it the hard way against Frances Tiafoe, battling through four gruelling sets with the American in 30c+ heat to win in just over three hours.
- The Australian Open reigning champion is chasing a record-extending eighth title here and 17th Grand Slam overall in Melbourne in what is his self-proclaimed favourite of the four major tournaments.
TAYLOR FRITZ
- World number 31 Taylor Fritz overcame his fellow American Reilly Opelka in five arduous sets on Wednesday, winning the second-round match from 2-1 down in a result featuring three tiebreaks.
- 23-year-old Fritz has played and lost to Novak Djokovic twice before in two straight-set defeats on clay back in 2019 at the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Masters.
THE PREDICTION
Taylor Fritz has already played nine sets at the Australian Open to reach the third round here with two tough and tiring victories over Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Reilly Opelka. He will have had that playing field levelled a little by his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, who made Novak Djokovic work very hard for a four-set win in searing heat on Wednesday. Recovery will be key here for both players but the world number one is a master of that particular art. Fritz had entered this tournament in some questionable form hanging over from a poor 2020 but he will be up for this encounter in a big way and could be a challenge for the Serb, especially in the first set. However, the young American has failed to take a set from Djokovic in their two previous matches and he is unlikely to start now. Novak Djokovic to reach the round of 16 via straight sets looks a reasonable outcome.
