Tuesday's Australian Open tennis acca tips: Carlos Alcaraz set for winning start to 2024

Carlos Alcaraz's 2024 bow looks set to be the highlight of the evening session on day three at the Australian Open.

Alcaraz will be in action for the first time this year with an injury cloud hanging over the young Spaniard.

There have been a few voices saying that Alcaraz has overdone it and cannot maintain his intensity long-term.

Here, we take a look at that first-round match for Alcaraz and more to help you assemble an accumulator on Tuesday, 16 January 2024.

 

Australian Open Men's Singles: Sebastian Ofner vs Thanasi Kokkinakis | Pick: Ofner

Australian Open Men's Singles: Dan Evans vs Lorenzo Sonego | Pick: Evans

Australian Open Men's Singles: Alexander Zverev vs Dominik Koepfer | Pick: Zverev

Australian Open Men's Singles: Richard Gasquet vs Carlos Alcaraz | Pick: Alcaraz

Australian Open Women's Singles: Qinwen Zheng vs Ashlyn Krueger | Pick: Zheng

Australian Open Women's Singles: Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Pliskova | Pick: Rybakina

Australian Open Women's Singles: Petra Martic vs Ajla Tomljanovic | Pick: Tomljanovic

Australian Open Women's Singles: Rebecca Marino vs Jessica Pegula | Pick: Pegula

 

Sebastian Ofner vs Thanasi Kokkinakis

Sebastian Ofner and Thanasi Kokkinakis will square off for the second time in their careers when they meet in the first round of the Australian Open.

The last time that they played, Kokkinakis won 6-4 7-6(4) in the qualifiers for the 2019 Australian Open.

While Ofner's 4-2 record this season isn't much to write home about, he faces a man yet to get on the board.

Kokkinakis has lost both his matches so far this year and could have a hard time getting beyond the Austrian.

 

Dan Evans vs Lorenzo Sonego

Daniel Evans and Lorenzo Sonego are set for their third career meeting when they come together in the first round on Tuesday.

The last time that they squared off, Sonego won 4-6 6-3 6-2 in the second round at the Miami Open in 2023.

That was Sonego's second win in as many meetings against Evans.

Evans has the tools to turn things around on Sonego on the faster courts in Australia.

 

Alexander Zverev vs Dominik Koepfer

German countrymen Alexander Zverev and Dominik Koepfer will also split a third meeting in their first-round encounter.

Zverev is playing for the first time since his efforts spearheaded Germany's United Cup win.

Zverev won four of his five matches in singles ties at the United Cup and comes into Melbourne with hopes of going very deep.

Koepfer will be aware that Zverev should have his number after two previous losses to the world No 6.

 

Richard Gasquet vs Carlos Alcaraz Garfia

This will be the second time that Carlos Alcaraz and Richard Gasquet face off with the head-to-head 1-0 for Spaniard.

The last time that they faced off in singles competition, Alcaraz won 6-2 6-2 in the final at Umag on clay back in 2021.

This surface will be a different matter but is unlikely to offer much aid to Gasquet.

If Alcaraz is fully fit, he should breeze through this one.

 

Qinwen Zheng vs Ashlyn Krueger

Qinwen Zheng and Ashlyn Krueger will go head-to-head for the first time ever when they face off in the first round.

Zheng hasn't played since the United Cup, where China lost in the quarter-finals, but she did notch a pair of singles wins in the group stage.

Zheng has some big goals for 2024, but they start with the modest target of avoiding an upset loss here.

Krueger doesn't have the sort of momentum that should trouble Zheng, but she will still need to play well to progress.

 

Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Pliskova

In probably one of the clashes of the first round, last season's finalist Elena Rybakina meets former Grand Slam champion Karolina Pliskova.

Rybakina has got the better of Pliskova three times in as many meetings and will be heavily favoured after her title run in Brisbane.

The last eight loss in Adelaide probably ensured that Rybakina comes into this clash fresh and ready to fire.

Rybakina has never dropped a set to Pliskova, although they have contested two tiebreaks.

 

Petra Martic vs Ajla Tomljanovic

Resurgent home hope Ajla Tomljanovic will have everyone on her side when she faces off with Petra Martic.

This will be the fourth meeting between these two players, with Martic holding a 2-1 lead in the rivalry.

The last time they competed against one another was also in a Grand Slam, and Tomljanovic won 7-6(6) 6-4 in the second round at the US Open in 2021.

Tomljanovic has been on the up lately and will look to continue her surge by booking a second-round berth in Melbourne.

 

Rebecca Marino vs Jessica Pegula

Jessica Pegula still needs to show she can push for Grand Slam honours despite making a big title breakthrough in 2023.

Pegula faces an unfamiliar foe, Rebecca Marino, in the first round of the Australian Open.

Fitness concerns reared their head for Pegula in Adelaide; everyone will watch for any sign of strain in Melbourne.

Pegula has yet to progress beyond the last eight at a Grand Slam, having lost at that stage six times in her career.