AO 2026 Draw Delivers Drama as De Minaur Lands Nightmare Opener
Good evening and the Australian Open draw for 2026 has landed and it has delivered tension, excitement and more than a few headaches for the home favourites.
At the top of the tree, nothing changes. Aryna Sabalenka leads the women’s draw as world number one, while Carlos Alcaraz headlines the men’s side as the top seed. Both are expected to go deep and on paper, their opening rounds look manageable. But as we know at Melbourne Park, the draw is never just about the favourites. It’s about who you run into early and who you’re forced to survive.
For Australian fans, all eyes immediately turn to Alex de Minaur and the reaction is mixed. Yes, he avoided the side of the draw occupied by two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner and that is a small relief. But the bad news comes fast. De Minaur opens his campaign against Matteo Berrettini, a former Wimbledon finalist and one of the most dangerous unseeded players in the field.
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This is not a gentle warm-up. Berrettini has the power to hit through anyone on his day and he already holds a winning head-to-head record over the Australian number one. For de Minaur, this is a first-round match that feels more like a fourth round and if he survives it, the road ahead doesn’t get much easier. Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Bublik and eventually Carlos Alcaraz are all possible obstacles. It’s a genuine minefield.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, there’s sympathy for Adam Walton, who has been handed Carlos Alcaraz in round one. It’s a brutal assignment, but also a rare opportunity. Walton has pushed Alcaraz before and on home soil, with nothing to lose, he can swing freely and make it uncomfortable.
Jannik Sinner begins his hunt for a third straight Australian Open title against Hugo Gaston, while Alexander Zverev, last year’s runner-up, lurks in a section that could catch out more than one hopeful contender early.
On the women’s side, the top seeds have been treated kindly at the start. Sabalenka faces a French wildcard and Iga Swiatek opens against a qualifier. But danger is never far away. One match already being circled is Mirra Andreeva against Donna Vekic, a clash of youth, experience and serious firepower.
For Australia’s women, Maya Joint carries expectations as the top local seed, while several others face qualifiers and tricky early tests that could shape their entire tournaments.
So as the draw settles and preparations begin, one thing is clear. The Australian Open hasn’t even started and already, the pressure is on. Some dreams will end early, some stars will stumble and a few names we’re not talking about yet may seize their moment. From Melbourne Park, this tournament is ready to ignite.
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