Australia's top tennis hope, Alex de Minaur, has received a significant and favourable shift in his Australian Open fortunes just before the tournament begins. His original first-round opponent, the formidable former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, has withdrawn from the grand slam due to illness.
Late Withdrawal Shakes Up First Round
The Australian Open announced the Italian's withdrawal via its official social media channels. Berrettini's participation had been in doubt after he was forced to retire early from an exhibition match at Melbourne Park, playing only one fixture before pulling out.
In a statement, the former world No. 6 expressed his regret. "I'm really sorry to have to withdraw from the tournament," Berrettini said. "I have always enjoyed being and playing here and feeling your incredible support. Thank you to the tournament for their fantastic organisation and I hope to see all you again very soon."
His place in the draw has been taken by American lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald, who now steps in to face the tenth-seeded de Minaur.
A Clear Advantage for Demon
This late change presents a much more manageable opening hurdle for de Minaur. While he had trailed in his head-to-head record against the powerful Berrettini 3-2, the Sydneysider holds a perfect record against his new opponent.
De Minaur has faced McDonald on three previous occasions and emerged victorious every time. Their most recent meeting was in 2022 in Rotterdam, where de Minaur, then ranked 34th, secured a hard-fought three-set win over the then-world No. 49.
The contrast in current form is stark. De Minaur enters as the world No. 10 and the highest-seeded Australian man at the Open, while McDonald has slipped to 113th in the rankings and has not defeated a top-20 player since the 2023 US Open.
Berrettini's Ongoing Fitness Battle
Berrettini's withdrawal is the latest setback in a career recently plagued by physical issues. The 30-year-old endured an injury-ravaged 2023, which saw him miss both the French Open and the US Open due to a recurring oblique problem.
This latest illness means he has now missed seven grand slams in the past four years. His absence is a blow to the tournament's depth, though he was able to return in time to help Italy clinch the Davis Cup in November last year.
For de Minaur, the focus remains firmly on the first match. Speaking before the draw was finalised, he emphasised a match-by-match approach, dismissing talk of a potential deep run to a first grand slam semi-final.
Beyond McDonald, de Minaur's potential path remains challenging. He could face Argentina's Mariano Navone or Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic in the second round, with a likely third-round clash against 29th seed Frances Tiafoe. A tough fourth-round encounter with Alexander Bublik and a potential quarter-final against world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz could await.
However, the replacement of the dangerous Berrettini with a player he has consistently beaten provides the home favourite with the ideal start to his 2024 Australian Open campaign.
