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Can Sam Groth open his Sydney International with a strong win over Federico Delbonis? Join The Roar for live scores from around 7:30pm (AEDT), following the completion of Simona Halep versus Caroline Garcia.
Groth has gone winless for over five months, having not won since Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov retired against the fast server in the first round of the US Open.
The Australian is one of five Australians in the Sydney International draw, and has won only four of his last ten matches.
He has played just one match this year, in the first round of the Brisbane International, where he lost to South Korean Hyeon Chung in straight sets 7-6, 6-4.
If Groth is to be a force at the upcoming Australian Open, a win over Delbonis is a must.
Like Groth, Delbonis is unseeded and coming off a series of losses – the world number 52 has not won since defeating Ante Pavic at Stockholm in late October, 2015. He has won five of his last ten matches, boasting a slightly better record than his opponent. However he is yet to play in 2016, last walking out onto the court at Buenos Aires on the ATP Challenger Tour in early November of last year, when he was knocked out by the Portugese Gastao Elias in the first round.
Groth and Delbonis have never played each other. This will be the Argentinian’s first tournament at Sydney, while it will be Groth’s third, after he competed as a wild card in the 2014 and 2015 competitions, being knocked out at the hands of Radek Stepanek and Gilles Muller respectively
The winner will take on either Teymuraz Gabashvili or seventh seed Leonardo Mayer.
Prediction
Groth to progress, defeating Delbonis comfortably.
Groth in straight sets.
Join The Roar for live scores from around 7:30pm (AEDT), following the completion of Halep and Garcia’s match, and be sure to comment below.
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