Tuesday's tennis acca tips: Adelaide International picks

The Adelaide International is the biggest of the pro tour stops going down this week, with events in Auckland and Hobart dwarfed by the dual WTA and ATP event.

The WTA 500 Adelaide International has attracted a top field looking to gain momentum for the upcoming Australian Open.

While the men's event is only an ATP 250, there is still plenty on the line for those involved.

 

ATP Adelaide: Jiri Lehecka vs Adam Walton | Pick: Lehecka

ATP Adelaide: James McCabe vs Alexander Bublik | Pick: Bublik

ATP Adelaide: Rinky Hijikata vs Dan Evans | Pick: Evans

WTA Adelaide: Katerina Siniakova vs Karolina Pliskova | Pick: Pliskova

WTA Adelaide: Magda Linette vs Ekaterina Alexandrova | Pick: Linette

WTA Adelaide: Marketa Vondrousova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich | Pick: Vondrousova

 

ATP Adelaide: Jiri Lehecka vs Adam Walton

Jiri Lehecka is back into regular tour action after his United Cup outing last week to start the season.

He faces an unfancied Australian qualifier who already has two top 100 wins this week through the qualifying event.

Lehecka is out to build confidence after losing both his matches at the United Cup last week.

This will be the first-ever meeting between these players, with Lehecka having the edge in elite experience despite being two years Walton's junior.

 

ATP Adelaide: James McCabe vs Alexander Bublik

Lucky loser James McCabe is set for a big test first up as he faces a stiff tussle with world No 31 Alexander Bublik to start his home event.

Bublik will be heavily favoured even if he is playing in his first match of the season against a player who has already been in action.

Bublik had his injury troubles towards the end of last season and will want to shake those off with a strong start.

This is also the first-ever clash between these players at any level, with McCabe not playing at the same level as Bublik.

 

ATP Adelaide: Rinky Hijikata vs Dan Evans

British hope Dan Evans is set to take on local wildcard Rinky Hijikata to start his season.

This will be the first time that Evans takes on Hijikata at ATP Tour level with 30 rankings places splitting the players.

Evans is the higher-rated man, but having not started his season last week like Hijikata, he may be at a disadvantage.

Hijikata won twice in Brisbane to reach the last eight to start his season and reach a new career-high ranking.

 

WTA Adelaide: Katerina Siniakova vs Karolina Pliskova

Former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova faces compatriot Katerina Siniakova to start her campaign in Adelaide.

Pliskova has the better record and game for hard courts and should also hold a mental edge over her opponent.

Siniakova has lost both of her matches against Pliskova, who will also be something of a role model for her.

Pliskova has the big match quality to breeze through this but it could still be a tricky match given how well her opponent knows her.

 

WTA Adelaide: Magda Linette vs Ekaterina Alexandrova

Poland's Magda Linette is set for quite the battle against a player ranked just three places below her heading into the week.

Linette has won both of the clashes between the players on hard courts, with Alexandrova's single win coming on clay.

Alexandrova is still looking for her first win this season after she lost in the first round in Brisbane last week.

Linette at least claimed a big win over Naomi Osaka to start her 2024 campaign before being downed by Jelena Ostapenko.

 

WTA Adelaide: Marketa Vondrousova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich

Marketa Vondrousova will set out to even up her rivalry with Aliaksandra Sasnovich, having lost to the Russian in their only meeting to date.

That meeting was in the second round of the 2020 US Open, with a lot of water under the bridge since then.

Vondrousova is now a reigning Grand Slam champion and top ten player, while things have not gone so well for Sasnovich.

Vondrousova won one and lost one at the United Cup and should be out to kickstart her campaign with a strong run in Adelaide.