AAP Tennis

Australian Open draw hands de Minaur a devilish path

Jan 15, 2026

deon — Alex de Minaur has been given a tough path to glory in the Australian Open draw. -AAP Image

Alex de Minaur will need to hit the ground running after copping a devilish Australian Open draw, pitted against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the first round at Melbourne Park.

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After a stellar 2025 campaign, de Minaur enters his home grand slam with his highest-ever seeding but with no time to ease his way into the season-opening major starting on Sunday.

The world No.6 trails Berrettini 3-2 head to head but his two wins over the Italian have, encouragingly, both come on hard courts.

Should he pass the Berrettini test, de Minaur will play either Argentina's world No.74 Mariano Navone or Serbia's 96th-ranked Hamad Medjedovic for a likely shot at American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe in round three.

Handed no favours at Thursday's draw in Melbourne, the sixth seed's path doesn't get any easier after that.

De Minaur has potential shootouts with his grand slam nemesis Alexander Bublik, the world No.10, in the last 16 and the top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

Teenage sensation Maya Joint, Australia's first women's seed since retired great Ash Barty won the title in 2022, will open her campaign against world No.60 Tereza Valentova.

If she beats the Czech, the 30th-seeded Joint will play either New Zealander Lulu Sun or a qualifier for a likely showdown with fifth-seeded 2023 champion Elena Rybakina in the third round.

Emerson Jones, Australia's other exciting teenage prospect, also copped a rough draw.

The 17-year-old faces Canada's world No.19 Victoria Mboko, another teenager who enjoyed a meteoric rise from relative obscurity in 2025 to crack the top 20 for the first time.

Emerging Queenslander Adam Walton will be unsure whether he has a dream or a wretched draw after landing a first-round confrontation with Alcaraz.

With two crowns each from the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open, the 22-year-old Spanish wonder is bidding to become the youngest man ever to complete a career grand slam.

If Tristan Schoolkate gets past French 32nd seed Corentin Moutet, he would be set to front Alcaraz - or Walton - in the second round.

Australian men's No.2 Alexei Popyrin will take on world No.50 Alexandre Muller first-up, but is then due to clash with third seed Alexander Zverev in the second round.

Aussie women's No.2 Daria Kasatkina, along with Ajla Tomljanovic, Kim Birrell and Priscilla Hon all drew qualifiers for their opening matches.

Kasatkina could face world No.10 Belinda Bencic, the unbeaten star of last week's United Cup, in round two.

But if Joint and Kasatkina manage to survive the first week, the two will clash in the round of 16 with world No.2 Iga Swiatek likely to be lying in wait in the quarter-finals.

Women's world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka will play young Frenchwoman Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah first up.

Defending champion Madison Keys will kick off her title defence against Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova.

French Open champion Coco Gauff plays Kamilla Rakhimova and could face Venus Williams in the second round.

Ten-time champion Novak Djokovic faces Pedro Martinez in the first round, while Zverev will start his campaign against Canada's Gabriel Diallo.

Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinnner should account for Frenchman Hugo Gaston first-up but is on a third-round collision course with rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca.

WHO THE AUSSIES FACE IN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN FIRST ROUND AT MELBOURNE PARK:

Men's singles

6-Alex de Minaur v Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

Alexei Popyrin v Alexandre Muller (FRA)

Adam Walton v 1-Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

Aleksandar Vukic v Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG)

Tristan Schoolkate v 32-Corentin Moutet (FRA)

James Duckworth v qualifier

Jordan Thompson v Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG)

Chris O'Connell v qualifier

Rinky Hijikata v Adrian Mannarino (FRA)

Qualifier Dane Sweeny v TBC