Alex de Minaur’s Australian Open hopes have taken successful, with the top-ranked Australian copping a nightmare run within the match draw.
However his likelihood is stronger than Thanasi Kokkinakis’, whose shoulder harm sustained within the Adelaide Worldwide have triggered him to withdraw from the singles occasion.
Seeded sixth after his efficiency on the United Cup, de Minaur will start his match in opposition to unseeded Italian Matteo Berrettini, a former World No.6 and Wimbledon finalist who made it to the semi-final at Melbourne Park in 2022 earlier than sliding down the rankings attributable to harm lately.
Following that, big-hitting American Frances Tiafoe, a two-time grand slam semi-finalist, awaits within the third spherical, with tenth seed Alexander Bublik is a possible fourth-round opponent.
De Minaur will then seemingly should face high seed and six-time grand slam champion Carlos Alcaraz within the quarter-finals, in opposition to whom he holds an unsightly 0-5 report, although they’ve by no means met in a best-of-five match.
The one constructive is that two-time reigning Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, who thrashed de Minaur within the 2025 quarter-finals and 2022 fourth spherical and holds a 13-0 report over him, is on the opposite facet of the draw, that means they can’t face each other till the ultimate.
Kokkinakis’ withdrawal, publicly revealed through a social media submit, got here earlier than the draw was introduced, permitting his spot to go to a fortunate loser from qualifying. He had beforehand certified for the principle draw by a protected rating.
Kokkinakis will, nonetheless, compete on the Australian Open within the males’s doubles, partnering up with shut pal Nick Kyrgios on the lookout for a second title at Melbourne Park, after successful in 2022.
The one different seeded Australian in both singles draw is ladies’s world No.30 Maya Joint, who faces Tereza Valentova within the first spherical.
Nevertheless, her draw will get harder from there, together with a possible third-round date with fifth seed and 2023 Australian Open runner-up Elena Rybakina, whereas tenth seed Belinda Bencic – who went by undefeated representing Switzerland on the United Cup – and one in every of world No.2 Iga Swiatek or two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka ready within the wings.
The unluckiest Australian is the unseeded Adam Walton, who should face world No.1 Alcaraz in a baptism of fireplace within the first spherical.
Australians within the males’s singles
Alex de Minaur (6) vs Matteo Berrettini
Alexei Popyrin vs Alexandre Muller
Adam Walton vs Carlos Alcaraz (1)
Aleksandar Vukic vs Thiago Augstin Tirante
Tristan Schoolkate vs Corentin Moutet (1)
James Duckworth (WC) vs Qualifier/Fortunate Loser
Jordan Thompson (WC) vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Chris O’Connell (WC) vs Q/LL
Rinky Hijikata (WC) vs Adrian Mannarino
Australians within the ladies’s singles
Maya Joint (30) vs Tereza Valentova
Daria Kasatkina vs Q
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Q
Kim Birrell vs Q
Priscilla Hon (WC) vs Qualifier
Talia Gibson (WC) vs Anna Blinkova
Emerson Jones (WC) vs Victoria Mboko (17)
Taylah Preston (WC) vs Zhang Shuai
