Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov – Round of 16 – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov on and what time does it start? Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov will take place on Sunday 22nd January, 2023 – not before 03:30 (UK)
Where is Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov taking place? Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov being played on? Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov
What channel is Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov on in the UK? Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Yoshihito Nishioka vs Karen Khachanov live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
YOSHIHITO NISHIOKA
27-year-old Yoshihito Nishioka is yet to drop a set at the Australian Open as he continues to enjoy the form of his career. The Japanese number one fully deserves his place in the round of 16 despite the fact that Mackenzie McDonald was clearly hampered by an injury in their match on Friday and the tricky left-hander should break his current career-high ATP world ranking of 33rd no matter the outcome here. Nishioka claimed his second ATP title at the Korea Open last season after bursting into form out of the blue on the late hardcourt swing.
KAREN KHACHANOV
World number 20 Karen Khachanov looks cool, calm and collected in Melbourne right now and he passed a significant test in beating Frances Tiafoe in four sets on Friday in a high-quality match. The 26-year-old set a career-high ATP world ranking of eighth after winning the Paris Masters, at Novak Djokovic’s expense, in 2018 but the Russian has only recently rediscovered that sort of level on tour. Khachanov stunned in-form Nick Kyrgios in five sets at the US Open last summer, setting his career-best Grand Slam exit there with a loss in the semi-finals to Casper Ruud.
THE PREDICTION
Yoshihito Nishioka is through to the round of 16 at a Grand Slam for the first time but this is a huge opportunity for both players to make a first foray into the quarter-finals in Melbourne. Nishioka’s game is one of those enigmatic wildcards on tour that can confound the very best players when everything falls into place and it has taken top 30-quality opposition to oust him from any tournament since the US Open. Hard-hitting ball machine Karen Khachanov has the quality and the temperament to last five sets here without breaking much of a sweat but this will be a fascinating tactical battle too and a likely thriller between two contrasting styles. The Russian leads their head-to-head 2-1 but Nishioka claimed their most recent meeting in two tiebreaks at the Citi Open last August. Back Khachanov to win at least two sets as the likelier of two very capable victors.
