The Pick: Aslan Karatsev vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime, AO fourth round

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change

There is perhaps nothing more beautiful in all of sport than an athlete in the zone. World No. 114 Aslan Karatsev is there right now. Some call it a flow state, defined as a person performing an activity while fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement and enjoyment. It's not often you see a new player compete at this level, so let's enjoy it.

Karatsev came into his third-round match against Diego Schwartzman as a +270 underdog, but the pre-match projections didn’t matter. There was nothing Schwartzman could do, as he fell, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, in less than two hours on Thursday night. Karatsev has not dropped a set at this year’s Australian Open, but neither has his next opponent, Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Auger-Aliassime dismissed his good friend and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3, on Thursday to reach his first-ever Australian Open fourth round. According to the oddsmakers, the 20-year-old is a -240 favorite to defeat the Karatsev, but given the Russian's unbelievable form, it’s not going to be that easy.

The flat-out-wide serve is the hardest serve to hit, but Karatsev can’t seem to miss it right now.

Karatsev finished the match with 50 winners compared to just five for Schwartzman. He struck clean balls off his return with apparent ease.

The Canadian will need to use his athleticism to extend the point and force Karatsev into going for too much. Auger-Aliassime broke Shapovalov’s serve, and his spirit, with one of the best shots of the tournament.

Performances like Karatsev’s in Melbourne don’t happen very often. Against Schwartzman, it looked like he couldn't miss a ball. While Auger-Aliassime is a sizable favorite, there’s no picking against the Russian, or any player, that is playing at this high of a level.

The Pick: Aslan Karatsev