Contenders roll out the often-quoted line that there are no easy first rounds at a major, but some clearly pose a stiffer challenge or more intriguing match-up than others at this year’s Australian Open.
These five scheduled opening-round showdowns will give fans plenty to keep an eye on – some involving seeds, others stars on the comeback or those unlucky to sit just outside the top 32.
Alex de Minaur [6] v Matteo Berrettini
In arguably the most anticipated of the opening-round men’s matches, Australia’s home hope Alex de Minaur faces a tall order against former world No.6 Matteo Berrettini.
De Minaur played his way into form at the right time on the eve of this home Slam at the United Cup in Sydney where he rebounded from a loss to Casper Ruud before posting wins over Jakub Mensik and Hubert Hurkacz.
The 26-year-old carries a mountain of expectations from an adoring home crowd each time he steps foot inside Rod Laver Arena and he will need to be sharp against the Italian nicknamed ‘The Hammer’ for his bludgeoning serve.
Berrettini, now languishing outside the top 50, leads the ledger 3-2 – the pair split two meetings last year and will draw on memories of his run to the Australian Open semifinals four years ago.
Ben Shelton [8] v Ugo Humbert
Entertaining American Ben Shelton could rightly argue he’s unlucky to draw the second-highest-ranked player outside the seedings, Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
The two southpaws competing on opposite sides of the Tasman Sea this week have struck form with both through to the quarterfinals in Auckland and Adelaide, respectively.
Shelton, the son of former professional player Bryan Shelton, has been knocking on the door since his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Melbourne Park three years ago and last year went one better before he ran aground against eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Former world No.13 Humbert made the AO fourth round last year.
Grigor Dimitrov v Tomas Machac
The highest-ranked unseeded player, Thomas Machac, will be counting his blessings after he dodged the might of the top two, Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner, for his first encounter at AO 2026.
While the gifted Czech did well to avoid a seed, he has by no means been handed a cushy opener against former world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov.
Machac beat the Bulgarian in three sets in Vienna in 2024, the same year he claimed wins over Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz.
Former AO semifinalist Dimitrov – a perennial crowd favourite for his silken strokes, swagger and charm – led eventual champion Sinner two sets to love before a pectoral injury forced his retirement at Wimbledon last year.
Lorenzo Musetti [5] v Raphael Collignon
Up to a career-best mark of world No.5 on the back of a singles final in Hong Kong to start his season, Lorenzo Musetti is the only player in the top 10 to wield a single-handed backhand.
The elegant Italian is a former boys’ champion in Melbourne yet the AO remains the only major where he has not yet reached the second week.
In a first meeting, he will square off against rangy Belgian Raphael Collignon, a 24-year-old who burst through over Casper Ruud at the US Open last year before he spearheaded his nation’s Davis Cup upset over Australia in Sydney in September.
He also started the season on form downing Denis Shapovalov and Dimitrov to reach the Brisbane quarterfinals.
Stan Wawrinka v Laslo Djere
Sentimental favourite and three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka will wave goodbye to Melbourne Park at this year’s AO as part of his farewell season.
Now ranked 139th, the 40-year-old, who beat Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to claim his first Slam at AO 2014, scored a wildcard for his 19th main draw appearance.
READ MORE: Wildcards for Wawrinka, Thompson, O'Connell
Having successfully guided Switzerland to the final of the United Cup in Sydney last week, including an upset of world No.26 Arthur Rinderknech, Wawrinka meets Serbian Laslo Djere, a former world No.27 who qualified in Hong Kong last week. The pair split two previous meetings in 2024 and 2022.