We’re getting deeper into the first Slam of the year and matches just keeps getting better. Today we’re looking at the best bets and our predictions for Lorenzo Musetti and Tomas Machac and the later match Novak Djokovic vs Botic van de Zandschulp.
Musetti vs Machac
Lorenzo Musetti and Tomas Machac are set to meet in what might be the best match to watch on Saturday 24th. This match features two players who have started the season in great form, both looking to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time in their careers.
Lorenzo Musetti, currently ranked 5th in the world, enters this match following a convincing straight-sets victory over his countryman Lorenzo Sonego. The Italian has looked sharp on the hard courts this month, having also reached the final in Hong Kong. While historically known as a clay-court specialist, Musetti has shown significant improvement in his aggressive baseline game and variety, making him a much bigger threat on faster surfaces.
Tomas Machac, the world number 24, is surely the most dangerous unseeded player left in the draw. He is coming off a sensational start to the year, having won his first career ATP title in Adelaide just last week. His momentum has carried into the Australian Open, where he pulled off two major victories back-to-back, defeating former semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov and former runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The match is scheduled to take place at Melbourne Park, with the winner moving on to face either Taylor Fritz or Stan Wawrinka in the round of 16.
H2H
The head-to-head record favors Machac, who won their only previous meeting in 2024. However, with Musetti now firmly established in the top five and Machac playing the best tennis of his life, this clash is expected to be a great watch of contrasting styles.
Predictions and Odds
A very hard match to predict, I think this will be tough for Musetti but he’s a fighter and my bet is on Over 38.5 games at odds 1.72 (-137.5) and Game Handicap Machac (+3.5) at around same betting odds.
Djokovic vs Van de Zandschulp
Novak Djokovic and Botic van de Zandschulp are set to face off in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday, January 24, 2026. This encounter holds significant historical weight, as Djokovic stands just one victory away from becoming the first player to record 400 singles match wins at Grand Slam tournaments.
Novak Djokovic, the world number 4 and 10-time champion in Melbourne (racquet info here), has been in clinical form throughout the first week. The 38-year-old Serbian has yet to drop a set, getting clear victories over Pedro Martinez and Francesco Maestrelli while conceding only 14 games across both matches. Having skipped warm-up tournaments to focus on recovery and preparation, Djokovic appears physically fresh and has dominated behind a serve that has been broken only once so far.
Botic van de Zandschulp, currently ranked 75th, has earned a reputation as a dangerous giant-slayer on the big stage. The Dutchman reached the third round by defeating 27th seed Brandon Nakashima in four sets and taking out Juncheng Shang in straight sets. He enters this match with the confidence of knowing he can trouble the best on tour, having famously defeated Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 US Open and Rafael Nadal at the 2024 Davis Cup.
H2H
The head-to-head record between the two is tied at 1-1. While Djokovic won their first meeting easily in 2022, Van de Zandschulp claimed their most recent encounter with a surprise three-set victory at Indian Wells in 2025. Djokovic will likely look to use the best-of-five format to wear down the Dutchman, while Van de Zandschulp will need to use his groundstrokes and big serve to keep the points short and prevent the defending champion from finding his rhythm.
The match is expected to be featured as a marquee session on Rod Laver Arena, with the winner moving on to face either Jakub Mensik or Ethan Quinn in the round of 16.
Predictions and Odds
I think in the end Djokovic have what it takes to get through this tricky match, but I’m betting on the Dutchman to be the first to win a set against him. 3-1 set betting gives the fine odds of 3.15 (+215).
