Australia's top men's tennis hope, Alex de Minaur, has received a significant and unexpected boost ahead of his home Grand Slam, after his scheduled first-round opponent, former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, withdrew from the Australian Open due to injury.
Berrettini's Injury Blow Opens Door for De Minaur
The Italian star announced his withdrawal just days before the tournament was set to begin, citing a recurrence of the abdominal problems that disrupted his 2025 season. "Unfortunately I've felt discomfort in my obliques once again and I won't be ready to perform at my best level for five sets," Berrettini posted on Instagram. He expressed his disappointment, calling the Australian Open "always special," but confirmed he hopes his time away from the court will be brief.
This development dramatically alters the landscape of one of the most anticipated first-round clashes. Berrettini, a former world number six, had shown strong form in lead-up events and posed a formidable challenge for the tenth-seeded De Minaur.
McDonald Steps In as Lucky Loser
De Minaur will now face American Mackenzie McDonald on Rod Laver Arena on Monday afternoon. McDonald, a 30-year-old tour veteran with a career-high ranking of 37, initially fell in the qualifying tournament but receives a reprieve as a "lucky loser" following Berrettini's exit. His best result at Melbourne Park was a run to the fourth round in 2021.
While still a capable opponent, the change represents a theoretically smoother path for the Australian, who is the highest local men's seed in two decades and carries the hopes of the nation.
Australians in Action on Opening Day
The main draw commences on Sunday with four Australians scheduled to play. The spotlight will be on qualifier Adam Walton, who faces the daunting task of taking on men's top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the Rod Laver Arena evening session.
Elsewhere, qualifier Jason Kubler meets American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe on John Cain Arena, while wildcard Talia Gibson opens play on Kia Arena against Anna Blinkova. Tristan Schoolkate rounds out the local contingent, facing 32nd seed Corentin Moutet.
In further positive news for tournament organisers, the Opening Week festivities, which included qualifying matches and concerts, attracted a record 217,999 attendees, nearly doubling the previous record set in 2025.
