2026 Australian Open: Sonego vs. Taberner – Prediction, Odds, and Preview
As the 2026 Australian Open approaches, tennis fans eagerly await a compelling first-round match in the men’s singles tournament. On Saturday, January 17, Carlos Taberner, currently ranked No. 98, will face off against Lorenzo Sonego, ranked No. 40. This early clash is part of the Round of 128 at the prestigious event.
Match Overview: Sonego vs. Taberner
Lorenzo Sonego enters the match as a strong favorite, with odds set at -1205, while Carlos Taberner is viewed as the underdog, with odds of +625. This reflects an implied probability of approximately 92.3% for Sonego to secure a victory.
Tournament Details
- Tournament: Australian Open
- Round: Round of 128
- Date: January 17, 2026
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Live Stream: Available on Fubo
- Court Surface: Hard
Recent Form and Statistics
Sonego has had a mixed year on hard courts, achieving an 18-19 match record. He has been effective on serve, winning 80.9% of his service games. His break-point conversion stands at a solid 37.6%, having successfully converted 85 out of 226 opportunities in the past year. However, he recently faced defeat against Juncheng Shang in his last tournament, the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open, with scores of 3-6, 4-6.
In contrast, Carlos Taberner’s hard court performance has been less impressive. He holds a 0-2 record over the last year in similar conditions. He has won 57.9% of his service games, but only a disappointing 5.6% of return games. His break-point success rate on hard courts sits at 25%, ranking him 322nd. In a recent match at the Great Ocean Road Open, Taberner lost to Alexander Shevchenko, with a scoreline of 3-6, 2-6.
Betting Outlook
| Player | Match Odds | Tournament Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Sonego | -1205 | +35000 |
| Carlos Taberner | +625 | +50000 |
As the match day approaches, interest in this first-round encounter at the 2026 Australian Open continues to rise. With the current odds heavily leaning towards Sonego, it will be intriguing to see if he can live up to expectations or if Taberner can cause an upset.
