"After taking home the lightning bolt trophy at the UTS Grand Final in December for the third time -- explaining that the fast format suits his game and "brings the best tennis out of me" -- De Minaur officially kicked off the new season as a member of Team Australia at the United Cup. The team event allowed him to do two of his favorite things: play in front of an Australian crowd and "represent the green and gold.""
"While the first major of the year can be a mix of stress and excitement for all players, it's even more so for Australians. The country hasn't produced a men's Australian Open champion since Mark Edmondson in 1976, so the hopes are largely pinned on De Minaur, the top-ranked Australian player and No. 6 seed, to reverse the drought. But he has a tough draw."
"He will now take on Mackenzie McDonald, a lucky loser, in the first round on Monday, and Frances Tiafoe could await in the third round. From there, it would only get harder. Alexander Bublik is a potential round-of-16 opponent and, if De Minaur makes it to the quarterfinals, he would likely have to take on Carlos Alcaraz. "It basically just means that I'm going to have to be firing from the word 'Go,'" De Minaur said of his path."
Alex de Minaur closed 2025 with standout results, reaching his first Australian Open quarterfinal, making two ATP finals, and winning the Washington Open 500. He won the UTS Grand Final for the third time, saying the fast format suits his game and brings his best tennis out of him. De Minaur began the new season with Team Australia at the United Cup, helping the side reach the quarterfinals and beating Hubert Hurkacz in three sets. As the top-ranked Australian and No. 6 seed at the Australian Open, he faces a difficult draw that could include Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Bublik and Carlos Alcaraz.
Read at ESPN.com
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