There are only two third round matches in the lower section of the Australian Open draw, one of which is Ben Shelton vs. Valentin Vacherot. Casper Ruud and Marin Cilic are also there on Saturday.
(8) Ben Shelton vs. (30) Valentin Vacherot
Another deep Grand Slam run looks like it could be on the cards for Shelton at the Australian Open. At just 23 years old, the American is already a semifinalist at this event (2025) and the US Open (2023). He also reached the quarters at the 2023 Australian Open and Wimbledon last summer. Shelton just thrives on the big stage. Unsurprisingly, he has dominated so far over the two days – edging out Ugo Humbert and Dane Sweeny in straight sets.
Next up for the world No. 7 on Saturday is a third-round match against Vacherot, who lost their only previous meeting 6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-4 at the 2022 Las Vegas Challenger. Unlike Shelton, Vacherot is a Grand Slam starter. In fact, the Monaco native had played in just one major before this season – losing to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at the 2024 French Open. At 27 years old, Vacherot has just burst onto the scene. He won the Shanghai Masters title last fall and backed it up with a quarterfinal showing at the Paris Masters. Vacherot has done well to beat Martin Damm and Rinky Hijikata so far in Melbourne, but Shelton represents a step up in the competition. What made it even more difficult was their difference in the Grand Slam.
Pick: Shelton at 4
Marin Cilic vs. (12) Casper Ruud
Ruud and Cilic will be facing each other for the fifth time in their careers on Saturday. Four previous encounters have gone Ruud’s way and he has defeated Cilic on three different surfaces – indoor hard, outdoor hard, and clay (twice). They most recently faced each other this past fall in Stockholm, where Ruud won 7-6(2), 6-4.
Cilic is 37 years old, but the 2014 US Open champion is still active in the Grand Slams. The 70th-ranked Croat raced to the fourth round of Wimbledon last summer and so far at Melbourne Park he has beaten Daniel Altmaier and Denis Shapovalov in straight sets. Meanwhile, Ruud and his fiancee have a baby on the way – but he’s not letting it get in the way of what they’re doing. The 13th-ranked Norwegian stormed into the third round with a straight edge on Mattia Bellucci and the in-form Jaume Munar. Given his current form and successful history against Cilic, Ruud should have the edge this time around.
Pick: Ruud at 4
