Australia's Alex de Minaur has made a commanding start to his 2026 Australian Open campaign, cruising past American Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena. The sixth seed needed just one hour and 48 minutes to secure a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory in the first round on Monday.
A Professional Performance Under the Melbourne Sun
De Minaur, who was originally scheduled to face the formidable Matteo Berrettini before the Italian's withdrawal, showed no signs of complacency against the lucky loser from qualifying. The Australian broke his opponent's serve early in both the first and second sets, establishing a rhythm that the world number 37, McDonald, could not disrupt.
The 26-year-old Sydneysider admitted to initial nerves but was delighted with his application. "It's always a nervy start, beginning at the Australian Open and playing at home," De Minaur said after the match. "So I'm extremely happy with that performance."
Serve Questions Persist Despite Dominant Display
While the scoreline was emphatic, one area of De Minaur's game remains under scrutiny: his first serve. Last season, his first serve percentage on tour was a modest 55.6%, a figure he will be keen to improve for deeper rounds. Against McDonald, he landed 52% of his first serves.
However, the warm Melbourne conditions provided a helpful boost. "Historically I've played pretty well here in Australia," De Minaur explained. "When the sun's out, like today, the conditions are pretty fast, the ball flies through the air, it kind of helps my serve a little bit."
His exceptional defensive skills and return game more than compensated, allowing him to save the only break point he faced and hold serve comfortably throughout the contest.
History in the Making and a New Challenge Ahead
De Minaur enters this tournament as the highest-seeded Australian man at his home Grand Slam since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006, carrying a career-high ranking of world number six. His consistent performances at Melbourne Park have already etched his name in the record books; last year he became the first Australian man since Phil Dent in 1982 to reach the fourth round for four consecutive years.
The path forward now leads to Serbian talent Hamad Medjedovic, who advanced in four sets. De Minaur is wary of the threat. "[Medjedovic] is extremely talented, he's got a lot of firepower," he said. "It's going to be up to me to try and neutralise as much as I can."
With his legs fresh after a short opening match and the vocal home support behind him, Alex de Minaur has laid a solid foundation for what he hopes will be a career-best run at the Australian Open.
