Australian Open: Auger-Aliassime Faces Davidovich Fokina in Round of 64

MELBOURNE, Australia — Felix Auger-Aliassime, the 23rd-ranked Canadian tennis star, will face Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (No. 66) in the Round of 64 at the Australian Open on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The match, set to take place at Melbourne Park, pits Auger-Aliassime, a six-time ATP titleholder, against Davidovich Fokina, who is seeking to regain his form after a disappointing 2024 season.

Auger-Aliassime enters the match as the heavy favorite, with odds of -350, compared to Davidovich Fokina’s +240. The Canadian is riding a six-match winning streak, including a title victory in Adelaide last week, where he defeated Sebastian Korda in a hard-fought final. Davidovich Fokina, meanwhile, has struggled recently, winning only three of his last five matches and exiting early in Adelaide.

Head-to-head, Auger-Aliassime holds a commanding 6-0 record against Davidovich Fokina. Their last encounter saw Auger-Aliassime dominate in straight sets, and bookmakers expect a similar outcome this time. “Felix played great in his opening match against Struff, and we expect him to be fully confident coming into this match,” said a tennis analyst. “On the other hand, Alejandro almost lost the opening set against Shang and made many unforced errors.”

Davidovich Fokina’s recent performance in Melbourne included a first-round win over Juncheng Shang, who retired due to injury after losing the first set. However, the Spaniard’s inconsistency and lack of form have raised concerns about his ability to challenge Auger-Aliassime, who has been in peak condition since returning from a right elbow injury that sidelined him for part of 2024.

The match will be played on a hard court, a surface that favors Auger-Aliassime’s aggressive style. With a 77.8% implied chance of winning, according to betting odds, the Canadian is expected to advance to the next round. However, Davidovich Fokina’s resilience and fighting spirit could make for an intriguing contest.