Australian Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz vs Yoshihito Nishioka preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick

Match Details

Fixture: (3) Carlos Alcaraz vs Yoshihito Nishioka

Date: January 15, 2025

Tournament: Australian Open 2025

Round: Second Round (Round of 64)

Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia

Category: Grand Slam

Surface: Hard (Outdoor)

Prize Money: A$ 96,500,000

Live Telecast: USA - ESPN & Tennis Channel | UK - Eurosport | India - Sony Sports & Sony LIV

Carlos Alcaraz vs Yoshihito Nishioka preview

Carlos Alcaraz plays his forehand in the first round match at the Australian Open - Image via Getty

Third seed Carlos Alcaraz will face Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in the second at the 2025 Australian Open on Wednesday (Jan. 15).

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who reached the quarterfinal at Melbourne Park last year, defeated Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round.

Alcaraz did not have a perfect end to 2024 as he struggled after winning the China Open title in Beijing. At Shanghai Masters, he was stunned by the 30th seed Tomas Machac and then suffered an upset loss against Ugo Humbert in the round of 16 at Paris Masters.

The four-time Grand Slam champion was knocked out in the group stage of the Nitto ATP Finals after losing two matches against Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev.

On the other hand, 29-year-old Nishioka started the 2025 season by qualifying at the Brisbane International. He defeated France's Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4 in the first round before going down 2-6, 7-6(5), 4-6 against Jiri Lehecka.

Nishioka next played at the Adelaide International, where he was ousted in the first round by Thanasi Kokkinakis 3-6, 6-3, 3-6. He started his Australian Open campaign against Aziz Dougaz of Tunisia and won 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3.

Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan celebrates the victory in the Men's Singles First Round match against Aziz Dougaz of Tunisia during day two of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park - Source: Getty

Carlos Alcaraz vs Yoshihito Nishioka head-to-head

Carlos Alcaraz and Yoshihito Nishioka have met only once before at the Paris Masters 1000, when the Spaniard won in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.

Carlos Alcaraz vs Yoshihito Nishioka odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap bets	Total games
Carlos Alcaraz	-250	-4.5 (-115)	Over 37.5 (-125)
Yoshihito Nishioka	+180	+4.5 (-125)	Under 37.5 (-115)

(Odds sourced from BetMGM)

Carlos Alcaraz vs Yoshihito Nishioka prediction

Carlos Alcaraz has won all other Grand Slams apart from the Australian Open. He aims to become the youngest Career Grand Slam winner and would hope to make a statement by another solid win.

Alcaraz could face 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal. He has never gone beyond the quarterfinal stage at Melbourne Park.

In 2023, when he was the reigning US Open champion, he had to skip the Australian Open due to an injury. In 2024, he suffered a quarterfinal loss against Alexander Zverev.

His opponent, Nishioka, has gone beyond the second round at the Australian Open only two times in his nine previous appearances at the event. His best result in Melbourne was reaching the last 16 in 2023, when he went down 0-6, 0-6, 6-7(4) against Karen Khachanov.

The former World No. 24, Nishioka has beaten a Top 3 player only once in his career, which was against Casper Ruud at the 2022 Korea Open. But he has never beaten a Top 10 player at any Grand Slam.

Pick: Alcaraz to win in straight sets.