TOMORROW’S Australian Open schedule features some ripping contests, including a couple of top 10 seeds who face tough opponents, and a rivalry that renews after three years.

PICK OF THE DAY: [6] Belinda Bencic (SUI) vs. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)

Our Pick of the Day for Day 4 is between a couple of 22-year-olds who are top 10 players for the next decade. Belinda Bencic is ranked seventh in the world and is at a career-high ranking, while world number 45 Jelena Ostapenko has reached the top five back in 2018. Both are yet to really consolidate themselves as champions just yet, with seven titles between them, but expect them to be names on the tour for a long time to come. In the pair’s only meeting, Ostapenko claimed a three-set win over Bencic at Indian Wells in 2018. Plenty is on the line tomorrow and this should be no earlier than a fourth rounder rather than a second rounder. Added intrigue is the fact both players grew up together through the junior circuit, with Bencic winning at the 2011 Czech Open (featured image, credit Tennis Magazine).

NEXT BEST: [23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) vs. Gilles Simon (FRA)

Any match involving Nick Kyrgios is always going to be entertaining and he comes up against French veteran Gilles Simon in the next match. Simon is a crafty player who will devise a plan good enough to cause an upset, but in their only clash which occurred last year in Washington, Kyrgios took home the chocolates 6-4 7-6. He was not at his absolute best in Round 1, but Kyrgios in front of a home crowd will build throughout and he will head in as strong favourite to make the Round of 32.

OTHERS TO CONSIDER:

Garbine Muguruza (ESP) vs. Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)

A Grand Slam winner and talented Australian do battle in another classic clash involving the home nation. Alja Tomljanovic left no prisoners in her Round 1 smashing of Anastasija Sevastova, while Muguruza was rolled in the first set 6-0, before running over qualifier Selby Rogers, 0-6 6-1 6-0. Muguruza has won seven titles and the last time these players faced off back in Monterrey, 2018, while Tomljanovic won way back at Miami, 2014.

[10] Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

Gael Monfils is in some ripping form, but he will have to contend with the big serving Ivo Karlovic. Standing at 211cm, Karlovic can win a game off his own service game if on, and makes it incredibly hard for anyone to break him – even a top 10 player like Monfils. The Frenchman enjoyed a smooth Round 1, but the 40-year-old Karlovic is a completely different player to the conservative Yen Hsun Lu. They have played six times before, but only twice since 2011 (both 2016) with Monfils coming out on top. Every match between them has involved tiebreakers so expect more of the same.

Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs. [15] Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

In a rivalry that has reached double figures, Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka continues his campaign against Italian Andreas Seppi. Now aged 34 and 35 respectively, the duo have played off 12 times, with Wawrinka winning nine. The last time they played was here at Melbourne Park back in 2017, when Wawrinka won in three tiebreakers – showing how it could well have gone either way. Incredibly, the last time Seppi won the head-to-head was in 2012 on clay, which also involved three tiebreakers.