Khachanov-Anderson Clash Leads Packed Friday Schedule At Great Ocean Road Open

Sixteen players remain in the hunt for the Great Ocean Road Open singles trophy. By the end of play on Friday, only four will remain.

Following the suspension of play on Thursday, both the third round and the quarter-finals of the singles draw will take place at Melbourne Park on Friday.

Six of the top eight seeds are still standing at the Great Ocean Road Open, including second seed Karen Khachanov. The Russian, chasing his fifth ATP Tour crown, will meet Kevin Anderson in one of the standout matches of the day at the ATP 250.

Khachanov and Anderson both recorded their first victories of the year on Wednesday. Second seed Khachanov overcame Aussie wild card Max Purcell 7-6(5), 6-3, while Anderson charged past Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-4, 6-2 in 57 minutes.

[WATCH LIVE 2]

Anderson won his only previous ATP Head2Head clash against Khachanov in three sets at the 2018 Miami Open presented by Itau. The winner of the pair's second encounter will face sixth seed Reilly Opelka or Botic Van de Zandschulp later in the day.

Third seed Hubert Hurkacz will continue his pursuit of a second ATP Tour trophy of 2021 on Friday. The Delray Beach champion will meet Pablo Cuevas in the third round. Antalya runner-up Alexander Bublik or Stefano Travaglia awaits the winner in the quarter-finals.

In the top quarter of the draw, #NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz will attempt to reach his maiden ATP Tour semi-final. The 17-year-old, who defeated top seed David Goffin in the second round, will meet Thiago Monteiro for a place in the quarter-finals. If Alcaraz can get through that match, he will face 11th seed Jordan Thompson or Mario Vilella Martinez for a place in the last four.

Fourth seed Jannik Sinner will continue his title bid against Aljaz Bedene. Both men will be attempting to book a quarter-final clash againt seventh seed Miomir Kecmanovic or Salvatore Caruso.

Doubles Second Round To Be Completed Friday
The six remaining doubles second-round matches will also feature on Friday’s schedule at the Great Ocean Road Open. Top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah will begin their 2021 campaign against Purcell and Thompson.

Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek will make their first appearance since their run to the Antalya Open final last month (l. to Mektic/Pavic). The third seeds will face alternates Roberto Carballes Baena and Cuevas for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Fifth seeds Marcus Daniell/Michael Venus, sixth seeds Marcelo Arevalo/Matwe Middelkoop, seventh seeds Luke Bambridge/Dominic Inglot and eighth seeds Bublik/Andrey Golubev will also make their first appearances at the ATP 250 on Friday.

View Schedule – Friday, 5 February 2021

1573 ARENA start 10:30 am
Third Round - [11] J. Thompson (AUS) vs M. Vilella Martinez (ESP)

COURT 3 start 11:00 am
Two WTA Matches
ATP Singles Match Murray River Open
Quarter-finals - [6] R. Opelka (USA) or B. Van de Zandschulp (NED) vs K. Anderson (RSA) or [2] K. Khachanov (RUS)

COURT 5 start 10:30 am
Third Round - K. Anderson (RSA) vs [2] K. Khachanov (RUS)

Not Before 12:00 noon
ATP Singles Match Murray River Open
Second Round - M. Ebden (AUS) / J. Smith (AUS) vs [7] L. Bambridge (GBR) / D. Inglot (GBR)

Not Before 3:00 pm
Second Round - After Suitable Rest - [Alt] R. Carballes Baena (ESP) / P. Cuevas (URU) vs [3] I. Dodig (CRO) / F. Polasek (SVK)

COURT 6 start 10:30 am
Third Round - [13] A. Bedene (SLO) vs [4] J. Sinner (ITA)

Not Before 12:00 noon
ATP Singles Match Murray River Open
Quarter-finals - After Suitable Rest - C. Alcaraz (ESP) or T. Monteiro (BRA) vs [11] J. Thompson (AUS) or M. Vilella Martinez (ESP)
ATP Singles Match Murray River Open

Not Before 3:00 pm
Second Round - [8] A. Bublik (KAZ) / A. Golubev (KAZ) vs M. Kecmanovic (SRB) / K. Khachanov (RUS)

COURT 10 start 10:30 am
Third Round - C. Alcaraz (ESP) vs T. Monteiro (BRA)

Not Before 12:00 noon
Third Round - [3] H. Hurkacz (POL) vs P. Cuevas (URU)
Second Round - [5] M. Daniell (NZL) / M. Venus (NZL) vs F. Delbonis (ARG) / A. Sitak (NZL)
Quarter-finals - After Suitable Rest - [7] M. Kecmanovic (SRB) or S. Caruso (ITA) vs [13] A. Bedene (SLO) or [4] J. Sinner (ITA)

COURT 12 start 10:30 am
Third Round - [7] M. Kecmanovic (SRB) vs S. Caruso (ITA)

Not Before 12:00 noon
ATP Singles Match Murray River Open
Second Round - [WC] R. Haase (NED) / S. Querrey (USA) vs [6] M. Arevalo (ESA) / M. Middelkoop (NED)
ATP Doubles Match Murray River Open

Not Before 3:00 pm
Second Round - [1] J. Cabal (COL) / R. Farah (COL) vs M. Purcell (AUS) / J. Thompson (AUS)

COURT 14 start 10:30 am
Third Round - [6] R. Opelka (USA) vs B. Van de Zandschulp (NED)

COURT 15 start 10:30 am
Third Round - S. Travaglia (ITA) vs [8] A. Bublik (KAZ)

Not Before 12:00 noon
ATP Singles Match Murray River Open
Quarter-finals - After Suitable Rest - [3] H. Hurkacz (POL) or P. Cuevas (URU) vs S. Travaglia (ITA) or [8] A. Bublik (KAZ)

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