Mensik against Müller, Sonego against Diallo

Alexandre Muller will be right back in action after his triumph in Hong Kong when he takes on Jakub Mensik in the first round in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon. Lorenzo Sonego and Gabriella Diallo also enter the pitch.

Alexandre Muller (SE) against Jakub Mensik

We already have a first ATP champion in 2025, as Muller claimed his first title in the opening week of the year – defeating Kei Nishikori in the Hong Kong final on Sunday. The Frenchman, who is ranked 56th, apparently wants more preparation before the Australian Open and is lacing up his sneakers again at the ASB Classic.

A difficult draw awaits Muller, starting with Mensik before the winner meets No. 1 seed Ben Shelton. Mensik dominated her only game on the Viennese hard courts last fall with 6:3, 6:2. The 19-year-old Czech also played well last week, advancing two rounds in Brisbane before losing to the red-hot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Count on Mensik to take full advantage of an exhausted opponent.

Selection: Mensik in 2

(WC) Gabriel Diallo versus Lorenzo Sonego

Sonego and Diallo will face each other for the first time in their careers on Tuesday. In a difficult year in 2024, Sonego compiled a record of 20-29 at the ATP level and suffered a second-round loss to Cameron Norrie in Hong Kong. It’s also worth noting that the 54th-ranked Italian hasn’t set a winning record on outdoor hard courts in a single season since 2019.

Diallo, on the other hand, has always given his best on difficult routes and last year he was outstanding – especially on the home straight. The Canadian, ranked 87th, reached the third round of the US Open as a qualifier, qualified in Shanghai and took second place in Almaty. He opened this season with a successful qualification in Hong Kong, so the momentum in this clash lies with Diallo.

Selection: Diallo in 3