Australian Open Day 4 Men’s Predictions Including Frances Tiafoe vs Francisco Comesana

Day 4 action at the Australian Open continues with several compelling men’s second-round encounters across the grounds in Melbourne. Frances Tiafoe looks to build momentum against Francisco Comesana, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina faces the towering Reilly Opelka. Elsewhere, Jordan Thompson meets Nuno Borges in a match where a home Aussie could reach the third round, and rising American Learner Tien takes on Alexander Shevchenko. Offering their insights and predictions are Andreas Pelekis, Steen Kirby, and Zain Mustafa. Who will advance?

Australian Open Day 4 Men’s Predictions

Frances Tiafoe vs Francisco Comesana

Zain: Francisco Comesana has already achieved a career-best result at the Australian Open. Frances Tiafoe, on the other hand, despite being greatly out of form entering the year, looked decent in his first-round match. If he continues to serve big and play aggressively, he should win this one.

Prediction: Tiafoe in 4

Andreas: Tiafoe was strong in his opening match, though Comesana is solid on hard courts and looking to build off a positive 2025 season. The American should push into the third round, but he is vulnerable to ups and downs and sometimes struggles to put away defensive players.

Prediction: Tiafoe in 5

Steen: Tiafoe is a capable player, but which version will appear? Comesana broke through on tour level last year, and is competitive on hard courts but prefers clay. Tiafoe on his best day can serve his way out of trouble and get a win, the worst case scenario for the American is that he beats himself with errors.

Prediction: Tiafoe in 4

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Reilly Opelka

Zain: Reilly Opelka’s serve means he has a puncher’s chance in any match he plays. But Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s overall court craft and baseline reliability should be a bridge too far for one of the game’s biggest servers.

Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 4

Andreas: Davidovich Fokina ranked in the Top 10 of returners on tour in 2025, according to ATP Tour data, and I don’t think he’ll be too afraid of Opelka’s powerful serve. The Spaniard won his opener in straight sets, and while Opelka similarly cruised, Davidovich Fokina won the pair’s only meeting. Opelka will have to out-serve, out-hit, and tire out the usually fit No. 14 seed.

Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 4

Steen: Opelka returned to his level of 21 tour level wins last year and is a perfectly even 3-3 this year. The serve is elite, but not much else is, and Davidovich Fokina is a more complete top 20 player. Fokina returns serve well and reached the semis in Adelaide to open the year. After four ATP finals last year (despite losing all of them) he looks primed for deeper runs in Grand Slams.

Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3

Jordan Thompson vs Nuno Borges

Zain: Nuno Borges had the tennis gods on his side in the first round, as his opponent had to retire mid-match. Now up against local player Jordan Thompson, this will likely be a match decided by which player has the more consistently aggressive baseline day. I expect Borges to come through in a tightly contested, errors-and-winners-filled match.

Prediction: Borges in 5

Andreas: Borges was able to take out Felix Auger-Aliassime via retirement, but the Portuguese star did play quite well on the show court. That could prepare him well to take on an Aussie favorite, though Thompson has a poor 5–12 record at his home Grand Slam. Borges — slightly newer to the tour compared to his opponent — owns a 5–3 record here. This is a rematch from their 2025 Australian Open second-round match.

Prediction: Borges in 4

Steen: The wild card Jordan Thompson can play inspired despite a difficult season in 2025. Borges is here because Felix Auger-Aliassime retired mid match and has a real shot at a surprise third round showing. The opportunity is there for either player, but Borges has been a better tour level player lately and Thompson’s grit isn’t likely to be enough.

Prediction: Borges in 5

Learner Tien vs Alexander Shevchenko

Zain: Alexander Shevchenko’s confidence from the first-round match and his more powerful groundstrokes will give him a chance here, but ultimately Learner Tien’s tactical awareness and ability to extend rallies should prove a challenge too big.

Prediction: Tien in 4

Andreas: Shevchenko was able to win his first-ever Australian Open match against Elias Ymer, while Tien battled through a first-round five-setter against the dangerous Marcos Giron. The Kazakh has a sneakily solid 5–2 record this season, coming off a quarterfinal appearance at the ATP 250 Adelaide event. Tien hasn’t been spectacular since a huge Next Gen ATP Finals triumph, and I’m going for the surprising upset here. The American is defending big points for the first time after last year’s Australian Open breakthrough.

Prediction: Shevchenko in 5

Steen: He’s no longer a teenager but Tien is one of the most exciting players on tour right now. 36-23 with some massive wins in 2025, he’s set to become a real contender for a Grand Slam final in the near future. Shevchenko is 25 and has yet to make that big leap, as he flips between the ATP Tour and the Challenger Tour. Tien’s level appears much higher here, though he was pedestrian in the first round.

Prediction: Tien in 4