Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur has received a significant and favourable shift in his Australian Open fortunes just before the tournament begins, with his scheduled first-round opponent withdrawing.
Berrettini's Illness Forces Late Withdrawal
Matteo Berrettini, the former Wimbledon finalist and world number six, has pulled out of the year's first Grand Slam due to illness. The Italian's participation was thrown into doubt after he was forced to retire early from an exhibition match at Melbourne Park on Friday night. He played just one fixture at the Red Bull Bassline event against Norway's Nicolai Budkov Kjaer before withdrawing from his other scheduled matches.
The tournament confirmed the news officially via its social media channels the following day. In a statement, Berrettini expressed his regret, saying: "I'm really sorry to have to withdraw from the tournament. I have always enjoyed being and playing here and feeling your incredible support." He thanked the organisers and added his hope to return soon.
A Major Reprieve for Home Hope De Minaur
This development is a substantial boost for Alex de Minaur, Australia's top-ranked male player. The Sydneysider, seeded tenth, was originally set to face a daunting opening test against the powerful Berrettini, against whom he trails 2-3 in their head-to-head record.
Instead, de Minaur will now begin his campaign against American Mackenzie McDonald, a lucky loser from the qualifying rounds who steps into the main draw. The Australian holds a perfect 2-0 record against McDonald, with their most recent meeting a victory in Rotterdam in 2022.
Navigating the Draw and Berrettini's Fitness Struggles
Berrettini's withdrawal is the latest setback in a career recently plagued by physical problems. The 30-year-old, now ranked 56th, missed the French Open and US Open last year due to an oblique injury, which also forced him to retire from the Italian Open. He has now been absent from seven Grand Slams in the past four years, though he did return to help Italy win the Davis Cup in November.
For de Minaur, avoiding the dangerous Berrettini simplifies the initial phase of a challenging draw. After the first round, he could face Argentina's Mariano Navone or Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic. A potential third-round clash with American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe looms, with possible later matches against Alexander Bublik and world number two Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
This change provides a smoother start for the Australian hope as he aims to make a deep run at his home Grand Slam, buoyed by his highest-ever seeding.
