Australian Open 2025 Day 2: Men's singles predictions ft. Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alex Michelsen, Lorenzo Musetti vs Matteo Arnaldi

Day 2 of the Australian Open is set to be a packed affair. Several top players from the men's and women's sides will open their campaigns, including former champions and present-day stars.

On the men's side, two of the biggest favorites for the title, defending champion Jannik Sinner, and third seed Carlos Alcaraz will take the court. The day will also see 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic begin his campaign.

Let's take a look at some of the men's singles matches scheduled for Day 2 of the Australian Open 2025.

#7 Jakub Mensik vs Nikoloz Basilashvili

One of the rising stars of the game, Jakub Mensik will begin his Australian Open campaign by taking on Georgian qualifier Nicolas Basilashvili. Mensik was the "Newcomer of the Year" for the 2024 season. The 2025 season has started on a bright note for the 19-year-old as he reached consecutive quarterfinals at the Brisbane International and the ASB Classic.

Nikoloz Basilashvili could not qualify for a single ATP-level event in 2024, mostly playing on the Challenger Tour. The Georgian player has started the 2025 season with a bang, qualifying for the main draw of the Australian Open. The former World No. 16 went past the likes of Cruz Hewitt, Alibek Kachmazov, and Francesco Passaro to qualify for the main draw.

These two players have yet to meet each other on the Tour, but given the current form, Mensik will have the advantage going into the match.

Predicted Winner- Jakub Mensik

#6 Luca Nardi vs Gabriel Diallo

In a battle of youngsters, Luca Nardi of Italy will be taking on Gabriel Diallo of Canada on Day 2 of the Australian Open. Nardi had most of his successes in the Challenger Tour in 2024, with the notable exception of a fourth-round run at the BNP Paribas Open on the ATP Tour. In 2025, the Italian played at the ASB Classic, where he lost to Zizou Bergs in the opening round.

Gabriel Diallo had a good 2024 season, reaching his first final on the ATP Tour at the Almaty Open. The Canadian has struggled in 2025 so far. He lost to Lorenzo Musetti in the second round of the Hong Kong Open and had a first-round exit at the ASB Classic, losing to Lorenzo Sonego.

These two players have not played each other so far, but recent form indicates a slight advantage for Diallo.

Predicted Winner- Gabriel Diallo.

#5 Jordan Thompson vs Dominik Koepfer

27th-seeded and home favorite, Jordan Thompson will begin his Australian Open campaign by taking on German qualifier Dominik Koepfer in the first round. Thompson had a breakthrough singles year in 2024, as he reached two finals and won his maiden title. The Australian had a good start to the 2025 season, reaching the quarterfinal of the Brisbane International, where he retired against Grigor Dimitrov.

Dominik Koepfer did not win any title in 2024 but reached three quarterfinals. The German player, in 2025, has come through the qualifiers to enter the main draw in Melbourne. He won against the likes of Ignacio Buse, Ethan Quinn, and Blake Eliis to qualify for the main draw.

The two players have yet to meet on the ATP Tour, but Thompson has won all three matches against Koepfer on the Challenger Tour. This will make the Australian favorite to win the upcoming match.

Predicted winner- Jordan Thompson.

#4 Thanasi Kokkinakis vs Roman Safiullin

Another home favorite and 2022 doubles champion Thanasi Kokkinakis will take on Roman Safiullin to begin his Australian Open campaign. Kokkinakis won two titles on the Challenger Tour last year, but could not make a mark on the main Tour. This year he won his matches against Yoshihito Nishioka and Tomas Martin Etcheverry to reach the quarterfinal at the Adelaide International but forfeited his match against Sebastian Korda.

Roman Safiullin won two titles on the Challenger Tour last year but had a single semifinal run on the ATP Tour in Brisbane. This year has not been good for the Russian player as he has had first-round exits at both the Hong Kong Open and the Adelaide International.

These two players have yet to meet on the Tour, but the Australian won the only match the pair played at the Challenger Tour. With the crowd behind him, Kokkinakis will be the favorite for the upcoming match.

Predicted Winner- Thanasi Kokkinakis

#3 Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Jan-Lennard Struff

In Picture: Felix Auger-Aliassime (Getty)

29th seed Felix-Auger Aliassime will begin his 2025 Australian Open against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany. Auger-Aliassime has been able to put a sub-par 2024 season behind him and have a great start to the 2025 season. The Canadian is coming on the back of a title-winning run at the Adelaide International, winning against the likes of Marcos Giron, Tommy Paul, and Sebastian Korda.

2024 saw Jan-Lennard Struff win his maiden title in Munich. This year, the German played entered the ASB Classic, but lost to eventual champion Gael Monfils in the second round.

The two players have played each other four times, with each player winning 2 matches each. However, given the upcoming match is on a hard court, Auger-Aliassime will have the advantage as he just won a hard-court title.

Predicted winner- Felix Auger-Aliassime

#2 Lorenzo Musetti vs Matteo Arnaldi

16th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti will begin his Australian Open with a match against his compatriot Matteo Arnaldi in the first round. Musetti had a great run in 2024, reaching three finals, reaching the semifinal at Wimbledon, and securing the Bronze medal at the Olympics. 2025 has seen the Italian reach the quarterfinal at the Hong Kong Open, losing to Jaume Munar.

Matteo Arnaldi had an average 2024, reaching a couple of quarterfinals, and one semifinal run at the Canadian Open. The Italian started his 2025 season at the Brisbane International, losing to Reilly Opelka in the second round.

Musetti has won both his matches against Arnaldi, the last one being a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6) win at the Nordea Open in 2023. Musetti will be the favorite in the coming match as well.

Predicted winner- Lorenzo Musetti

#1 Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Alex Michelsen

11th-seed and former runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas will begin his 2025 Australian Open campaign against young American Alex Michelsen. Tsitsipas won a title in 2024, but his returns on the hard courts diminished significantly. This season, the Greek player was at the United Cup. He won his match against Pablo Carreno-Busta and lost to Alexander Shevchenko in the next match.

Alex Michelsen was a revelation on the Tour in 2024, reaching two finals. The 20-year-old has started slowly in 2025. He lost in the second round at the Brisbane International to Jordan Thompson. He reached the quarterfinal at the ASB Classic, losing to Nishesh Basavareddy.

Michelsen won his only match against Tsitsipas at the Japan Open last year, winning 4-6,6-1,6-2. However, given the experience of Tsitsipas at Grand Slmas, he will have the edge in the upcoming match.

Predicted winner- Stefanos Tsitsipas

Edited by Tushhita Barua