The 2026 Australian Open first round delivers marquee matchups on Monday as former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic begins his Melbourne campaign against Spanish qualifier Pedro Martinez. The veteran Serbian, seeded fourth, faces a dangerous opponent riding a five-match winning streak. Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev also takes center stage against Dutch wildcard Jesper de Jong, while Felix Auger-Aliassime meets Portugal's Nuno Borges in a rematch of their Dubai encounter from last year.
Djokovic faces tricky opener against in-form Martinez
Novak Djokovic's quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title begins against a qualifier who arrives in Melbourne with serious momentum. Pedro Martinez has won five consecutive matches to reach the main draw, overcoming his dismal 4-11 hard court record over the past 12 months. The Spaniard's recent form represents a stark contrast to his overall struggles on the surface, where he converts just 35.7% of break point opportunities.
Djokovic brings overwhelming experience and superior hard court credentials, posting a 79.3% win rate on the surface over the past year. The Serbian's first serve dominance stands out, winning 76.9% of points behind his first delivery compared to Martinez's 62.5%. More crucially, Djokovic's pressure point statistics reveal his championship mentality - he saves 69.6% of break points faced while converting 41.4% of his return chances in critical moments. Martinez has never faced an opponent of Djokovic's caliber, and the 24-time Grand Slam champion should advance comfortably despite the Spaniard's recent confidence boost.
Medvedev meets Dutch wildcard in intriguing contrast
Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev opens his Australian Open campaign against local wildcard Jesper de Jong in what promises to be a fascinating stylistic matchup. Medvedev arrives with impressive form, winning eight of his last ten matches and riding a five-match winning streak. His return game remains elite, particularly against second serves where he wins 54.6% of points - a significant advantage given De Jong's limited hard court experience at this level.
The Dutch wildcard presents an interesting challenge with his powerful serving, averaging 8.8 aces per match and winning 75.5% of first serve points over his limited hard court sample. However, De Jong's 5-5 record on hard courts over the past year reflects his inexperience against top-level opposition. His current three-match losing streak and 3-7 record in his last ten matches suggest he may struggle against Medvedev's tactical sophistication and superior return skills. The Russian's 68.6% hard court win rate over the past 12 months should prove decisive in this encounter.
Auger-Aliassime seeks revenge against dangerous Borges
Felix Auger-Aliassime faces Nuno Borges in a rematch of their Dubai meeting from February 2025, where the Canadian prevailed. The Portuguese player brings improved form and confidence, posting a solid 17-17 record on hard courts over the past year. Borges excels in tiebreaks with a 60% success rate and demonstrates strong pressure serving, saving 67.3% of break points faced.
Auger-Aliassime enters with superior credentials, boasting a 71.2% hard court win rate and exceptional tiebreak dominance at 82.4%. The Canadian's serving power - averaging 10.4 aces per match - combined with his 76.9% first serve points won percentage gives him a clear advantage. However, Borges' balanced 5-5 recent form and ability to compete with top players makes this a potentially competitive encounter. The key will be Auger-Aliassime's return performance against Borges' improved serving under pressure.
Popyrin hopes to end losing streak against Muller
Australian Alexei Popyrin desperately needs to halt his seven-match losing streak against France's Alexandre Muller. Despite his recent struggles, Popyrin holds advantages in serving power with 10.4 aces per match and superior tiebreak success at 66.7%. The home crowd support could prove crucial for the struggling Australian, who previously defeated Muller at the Parma Challenger in 2020.
Ruud faces Italian challenge from Bellucci
Norwegian Casper Ruud meets Italy's Mattia Bellucci in their first career encounter. Ruud brings superior hard court experience with a 60.6% win rate and excellent break point conversion at 40.3%. Bellucci struggles with tiebreaks, winning just 25% over the past year, which could prove decisive if the match extends to crucial moments.
Arnaldi and Rublev renew competitive rivalry
Matteo Arnaldi and Andrey Rublev meet with their head-to-head tied at 2-2, including Arnaldi's victory at Indian Wells last March. The Italian's exceptional 83.3% tiebreak record contrasts sharply with Rublev's recent inconsistency. Both players enter with mixed form, making this an unpredictable encounter between two evenly matched competitors.
Davidovich Fokina overwhelming favorite against Misolic
Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina should cruise past Austrian Filip Misolic in their maiden meeting. The Spaniard's 63.3% hard court win rate and superior break point conversion at 46% dwarf Misolic's limited hard court success. Misolic's meager 16% break point conversion rate highlights his struggles in pressure moments.
De Minaur continues dominance over McDonald
Alex de Minaur holds a perfect 3-0 record against American Mackenzie McDonald, including a 3-0 advantage on hard courts. The Australian's superior movement and return game, winning 53.9% of second serve return points, should prove too much for McDonald despite the American's recent 6-4 record in his last ten matches.
Monday's first round action sets the tone for what promises to be a compelling Australian Open. Djokovic and Medvedev advancing would maintain seeded order, but upset-minded qualifiers and wildcards could provide early tournament drama. The day's results will determine which contenders navigate safely through to the second round and which face early exits in Melbourne.
Let's follow Australian Open on TennisRatio including the always recent schedule of the upcoming matches with detailed stats comparisons between the players. You can take a look back for the main draw analysis in our pre-tournament preview.