Novak Djokovic hits a return to David Ferrer during their final tennis match at Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.(Reuters)
Novak Djokovic hits a return to David Ferrer during their final tennis match at Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.(Reuters)

12th seed Tommy Haas and 13th seed John Isner were trailing their respective opponents in the first round of the 2014 Australian Open and both were forced to leave with an injury and retire as they became the first two seeded casualties of the men’s side of the tournament in Melbourne.

Isner was trailing Martin Klizan of Slovakia, two sets to none before being forced to retire because of an ankle injury. Similarly, Haas was behind Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain after one and a half sets before retiring due to a shoulder injury.

While the pair of losses cannot be considered real upsets, the other top seeds are still wary of the possibility that they might join them in the sidelines.

Who will survive after Day 3?

Here are five second round matches (and predictions) on Wednesday, January 15th worth watching (and worth betting on, whichever side you are on):

Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs. Kenny De Schepper (FRA) at 11:00 a.m. AEDT
Match Odds: Berdcyh (1.04) vs. De Schepper (9.5)
Game Handicap: Berdcyh (-7.5) vs. De Schepper (+7.5)

*First meeting between Berdych and De Schepper
Prediction: Berdych defeats De Schepper in four sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA) at 11:00 a.m. AEDT
Match Odds: Davydenko (4.0) vs. Gasquet (1.22)
Game Handicap: Davydenko (+5.5) vs. Gasquet (-5.5)

*Seven head-to-head meetings: Gasquet leads Davydenko, 5-2
Last match: Gasquet def. Davydenko, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 (Round of 32 - 2013 French Open)

Prediction: Gasquet defeats Davydenko in three sets, 7-5, 6-4, 6-3

David Ferrer (SPA) vs. Adrian Mannarino (FRA) at 1:00 p.m. AEDT
Match Odds: Ferrer (1.04) vs. Mannarino (9.5)
Game Handicap: Ferrer (-8.5) vs. Mannarino (+8.5)

*One head to head meeting: Ferrer leads Mannarino, 1-0
Last match: Ferrer def. Mannarino, 7-5, 0-6, 6-0 (Round of 32 - 2011 ATP World Tour Masters Madrid)

Prediction: Ferrer def. Mannarino in four sets, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4

Novak Djokovic (SER) vs. Leonard Mayer (ARG) at 2:00 p.m. AEDT
Match Odds: Djokovic (1.005) vs. Mayer (21.0)
Game Handicap: Djokovic (-10.5) vs. Mayer (+10.5)

*First meeting between Djokovic and Mayer
Prediction: Djokovic def. Mayer in three sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs. Alejandro Falla (COL) at 7:00 p.m. AEDT
Match Odds: S. Wawrinka (1.1) vs. A. Falla (6.0)
Game Handicap: Wawrinka (-6.5) vs. Falla (+6.5)

*First meeting Wawrinka and Falla

Prediction: Wawrinka in four sets, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2

In short, the top seeds won’t have much trouble in Day 3 of the 2014 Australian Open. Some will struggle a bit (especially to cover the game spread) but they will nonetheless advance to the next round.

Watch second round matches with AO TV Live via the tournament’s official website.