Australian Open Day 4: Ruud Faces Mensik in High-Stakes Clash

MELBOURNE, Australia — The second round of the 2025 Australian Open kicked off on Day 4 with 16 men’s singles matches, headlined by a high-stakes showdown between No. 6 seed Casper Ruud and rising star Jakub Mensik. The match, set for Wednesday, January 15, promises to be a test of Ruud’s resilience against the Czech teenager’s explosive power.

Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, narrowly escaped his first-round match against Jaume Munar in a grueling five-set battle. Mensik, meanwhile, delivered a dominant performance against Nikoloz Basilashvili, showcasing his booming serve and aggressive baseline play. Analysts are divided on the outcome, with some predicting an upset by the 19-year-old Mensik.

“Ruud was very up and down against Munar, and that’s something he can’t afford here,” said tennis analyst Damian Kust. “Mensik’s firepower and ability to push Ruud around could be the difference.”

Mensik’s recent form has been impressive, including a quarterfinal run in Auckland and a strong showing in the opening round. Ruud, known for his clay-court prowess, has struggled to replicate that success on hard courts, making this matchup particularly challenging.

In other matches, Reilly Opelka faces Tomas Machac in a battle of big servers, while Australian hope Jordan Thompson takes on Portugal’s Nuno Borges. Thompson, buoyed by home support, will need to overcome Borges’ recent form, which includes a first-round victory over Alexandre Muller.

“Borges is coming into this event on a great run of form,” said analyst Ateet Shrivastava. “Thompson will have the crowd behind him, but Borges’ consistency could tip the scales.”

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on how the top seeds navigate their draws, with potential clashes against Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz looming in the later rounds.