Australian Open draw hands de Minaur a devilish path

AAP
Jan 16, 2026, updated Jan 16, 2026

Alex de Minaur has been given a tough path to glory in the Australian Open draw. Photo: AAP

Alex de Minaur expects a first-round “battle” against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini as he manages rising expectations in pursuit of a breakthrough Australian Open title.

De Minaur, the sixth seed, was handed no favours in the draw for his home grand slam, acknowledging he needs to hit the ground running in the season-opening major starting on Sunday.

Former world No.6 Berrettini reached the Open semi-finals in 2022 and holds a 3-2 head to head advantage over de Minaur.

But the Sydneysider’s two wins over the 56th-ranked Italian have, encouragingly, both come on hard courts.

“Ultimately, every single player in the draw is extremely tough,” de Minaur said on Friday.

“I knew going in that there were going to be many unseeded players which were going to be really tough match-ups.

“It’s going to be a battle, but I’m looking forward to it. It basically just means that I’m going to have to be firing from the word go.

“We’ve had some good matches in the past. Yeah, hopefully I’ll be ready for it.”

Source: Australian Open

De Minaur feels at home at Melbourne Park, where he has had the same locker since his first appearance in 2017, and relishes returning to the familiar environment.

But he also has to tackle a growing number of off-court commitments and increasing external “noise” amid hopes he can bring an end to the 50-year wait for a local men’s champion.

“It is something that I’ve got to manage,” de Minaur said.

“(I’ve got to) manage my energy levels of giving kind of my time out to everyone else, but also remind myself that I need to be selfish at times and think about myself and what’s going to help me come out and perform.

“Because ultimately I’m here as a competitor to hopefully go deep at the Australian Open. That’s my priority.”

De Minaur was served an early wake-up call in his opening match of the new year, when beaten by world No.13 Casper Ruud at the United Cup.

But the 26-year-old baseline warrior rebounded with confidence-boosting wins over Jakob Mensik and Hubert Hurkacz ahead of his Open tilt.

“I’m feeling really good,” de Minaur said.

“I’m hitting the ball great and I’m physically feeling really good, so I’m excited to get started.

“It’s by no means going to be easy (but) I’m ready for the competition.”

When asked his thoughts on the Open title contenders, fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis insisted two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner and world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz are “head and shoulders” above the chasing pack.

But Kokkinakis is hopeful compatriot de Minaur can challenge the favourites in front of his home fans.

De Minaur is yet to beat Sinner (0-13) or Alcaraz (0-5) on tour and faces a possible clash with the top-ranked Spaniard in the quarter-finals.

“I mean, Alex is good. Maybe he doesn’t have the weapons like those two top guys do, but he brings a lot to the court,” Kokkinakis said.

“You never know what’s going to happen on their day.

“Obviously his record against them hasn’t been the best, but a grand slam is a long time. It’s over a fortnight, so a lot of things can happen.

“If he keeps playing good tennis and staying healthy, you never know.”

Aussie seed Maya Joint could face 2023 champion Elena Rybakina in the third round. Photo: AAP

Meanwhile, 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.

There are 21 Australians across the two draws, with 11 men and 10 women, after Dane Sweeny, Jason Kubler, Storm Hunter and Maddison Inglis qualified on Thursday.