Djokovic, Zverev and the boiling duel between Thiem and Kyrgios: The schedule for day 5 of the Australian Open

The third round of the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Friday. Players at the top of the main draw will try to advance to the second week of the first Grand Slam of the 2021 season. Defending champion Novak Djokovic will play in the night session, Adrian Mannarino, the last Frenchman in contention, will challenge Alexander Zverev and two big shocks will also be on the programme of the 5th day: Denis Shapovalov – Auger-Aliassime and Dominic Thiem – Kyrgios.

See also: Friday’s full schedule

Rod Laver Arena: Mannarino vs Zverev, Djokovic in night session

In the end, there will be only one left, and that is Adrian Mannarino (N.32). He is the last French representative in the men’s draw and has yet to lose a single set in Melbourne. The task will be far from easy for the 32-year-old, who will face Alexander Zverev (No.6) in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday. The German leads 5-0 in their clashes. Both men are scheduled in the third rotation on Centre Court.

Victorious in the previous round against a rugged Frances Tiafoe, Novak Djokovic (N.1) will try to up his game on Friday against another American, Taylor Fritz (N.27). Disturbed by the Australian heat on Tuesday, the world number one is expected to fare better at Rod Laver Arena during the night session. The Serb has never lost to Fritz in two prior clashes.

Margaret Court Arena: A Canadian shoot-out between Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime

Two games from the men’s draw are scheduled at Margaret Court Arena this Friday. The first will pit Pablo Carreo Busta (N.15) against Grigor Dimitrov (N.18). Both men have prior experience on the circuit and have played at least one Grand Slam semi-final in their careers. The Spaniard at the US Open last year and the Bulgarian at Wimbledon in 2014, the Australian Open in 2017 and the US Open in 2019.

The second encounter is also one to make the mouth water. Two Canadians, friends in life, will cross the iron in the fourth rotation on Margaret Court Arena. Denis Shapovalov (N.11), who played a memorable 5-set match in the first round against Jannik Sinner, will face Felix Auger-Aliassime (N.20). Shapovalov leads 2-1 in his head-to-head with his compatriot.

John Cain Arena: Thiem-Kyrgios clash set to ignite crowd

At around 9am in France (7pm in Australia), Dominic Thiem (N.3) and Nick Kyrgios will make their debut at the John Cain Arena, where an electric atmosphere is expected with a hostile Australian crowd, as in the Australian’s victory over Ugo Humbert in the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. Thiem and Kyrgios have faced each other only once, in 2015, which resulted in the Canberra native being dumped out.

Before we can enjoy the show that Thiem and Kyrgios could offer to the Australian public, Diego Schwartzman (No.8) will attempt to qualify for the 1/8th final of the Australian Open for the third time in his career after 2018 and 2020. The Argentinian will face Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev.

On the other courts: Two top seeds, Raonic and Lajovic

At the 1573 Arena, not before 6am GMT (5pm in Australia), Milos Raonic (N.14) will challenge Marton Fucsovics. The opportunity to see if the Hungarian has recovered well from his fight in 5 sets wednesday against Stan Wawrinka.

The other top seed on today’s schedule is Dusan Lajovic (N.23). Not before 5.30am in France, the Serb will face Spaniard Pedro Martinez, 87th in the world.

Related: Australian Open 2021: Dates, TV channel, headliners… All you need

to know about the tournament to read: In pictures: The 13 players who will miss the 2021 Australian Open