Why Monday’s first-round win was de Minaur’s most dominant yet

What once shaped as a banana-peel start to this year’s Australian Open turned into a cakewalk for the country’s top title hope Alex de Minaur on Monday.

De Minaur was originally supposed to face Matteo Berrettini, a player with the racquet artillery to trouble him – and who has won three of their five clashes – until a recurrence of the Italian’s oblique issues caused him to withdraw on tournament eve.

Alex De Minaur was always in control during his round one match.Credit: Eddie Jim

Instead, Australia’s world No.6 suddenly had 113th-ranked lucky loser Mackenzie McDonald in his first-round path.

McDonald boasts none of the weapons required to trouble de Minaur, who blew the American away in a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 beatdown in 108 minutes that doubled as the most dominant start to any of his nine Open main draw campaigns.

“It’s always a nervy start, starting an Australian Open, playing at home, so I’m extremely happy with that performance, and being through to the next round,” de Minaur said.

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“Let’s hope I can play many more matches here.

“Historically, I’ve played pretty well here in Australia. I enjoy the conditions. It’s quite quick when the sun’s out like today – the ball flies through the air, helps my serve, gives it a little bit more oomph, and I get more cheap points. I’ve got the crowd behind me [too], so it’s a win-win.”

It was not the least number of games de Minaur has conceded at Melbourne Park, which still stands as his 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 dismissal of another Italian, Matteo Arnaldi, in the second round of the 2024 edition.

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But the 26-year-old speedster was in fine form, including his court craft being typically elite, demonstrated by him repeatedly chasing down McDonald’s half-volleys and drop shots to whip winners.

De Minaur faced just one break point – which he fended off with a strong first serve before clinching the opening set a couple of points later – hit more than double as many winners as McDonald (32-15) and lost only five first-serve points for the contest.

He advances to a first-ever meeting with rising Serbian Hamad Medjedovic, who took three hours to take out Argentine Mariano Navone, 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2.

De Minaur is in a challenging section of the draw, with Frances Tiafoe (third round), Alexander Bublik (fourth round) and Carlos Alcaraz (quarter-finals) potential upcoming foes.

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