2026 AO draw in full: Aussies receive favourable start, but Demon dealt nightmare path

The 2026 Australian Open draw has delivered some favourable matchups for the Aussies, but a nightmare scenario has become a reality for the country's main hope.

Aussie men's first round matches:

[6] Alex de Minaur v Matteo Berrettini

Alexei Popyrin v Alexandre Müller

Adam Walton v [1] Carlos Alcaraz

Aleksandar Vukic v Thiago Tirante

Tristan Schoolkate v [32] Corentin Moutet

[WC] Jordan Thompson v Juan Manuel Cerúndolo

[WC] Christopher O'Connell v Qualifier

[WC] James Duckworth v Qualifier

[WC] Rinky Hijikata v Adrian Mannarino

Seeking to reach his maiden Grand Slam semi-final, sixth seed Alex de Minaur will once again be required to do it the hard way.

In his first round, the 26-year-old faces a stern test against 2022 semi-finalist and former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, before projected to meet Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Bublik, and world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters.

If he is to face Alcaraz, the Aussie has a negative 0-5 head-to-head record, with their recent matchup coming in November's ATP Finals.

However, there's good news for the four Aussie wildcard men, with Christopher O'Connell and James Duckworth awaiting a qualifier in the opening round.

Still yet to win a match in 2026, former Canadian Masters champion Alexei Popyrin could potentially face last year's finalist and third seed, Alexander Zverev, in round two.

Aussie women's first round matches:

[30] Maya Joint v Tereza Valentova

Daria Kasatkina v Qualifier

Ajla Tomljanovic v Maria Sakkari

Kimberly Birrell v Qualifier

[WC] Emerson Jones v [17] Viktoria Mboko

[WC] Priscilla Hon v Qualifier

[WC] Talia Gibson v Anna Blinkova

[WC] Taylah Preston v Shuai Zhang

All eyes will be on Maya Joint, who enters the Australian Open as the first Aussie woman seeded in the singles draw since Ash Barty won the tournament four years ago.

A tricky first round assignment against Czechia's Tereza Valentova, ranked No.60, is followed by a projected second round clash against 2024 Wimbledon quarter-finalist Lulu Sun and one of the favourites for the tournament, Elena Rybakina.

After withdrawing after two games in her Adelaide second round match against Joint, it remains to be seen whether Ajla Tomljanovic will be fit enough to feature against former world No.3 Maria Sakkari.

Daria Kasatkina will look to get off to a positive start in her first Australian Open as an Aussie against an unnamed qualifier, while 17-year-old former junior No.1 Emerson Jones should relish a great opportunity against one of the game's own rising stars in 17th seed Viktoria Mboko.

Men's top seeds:

[1] Carlos Alcaraz v Adam Walton

[2] Jannik Sinner v Hugo Gaston

[3] Alexander Zverev v Gabriel Diallo

[4] Novak Djokovic v Pedro Martínez

[5] Lorenzo Musetti v Raphael Collignon

Drawn on opposite sides of the bracket as No.1 and No.2 seeds respectively, it will take something special to see a name other than Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner in the decider.

Andrey Rublev was the last player to win a tournament that both featured Alcaraz and Sinner back in 2024, with the former, who hasn't yet reached the semi-finals in Melbourne, could complete the career Slam at age 22.

Back-to-back champion Sinner could face 10-time champion Novak Djokovic or fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the last four.

Women's top seeds:

[1] Aryna Sabalenka v [WC] Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah

[2] Iga Świątek v Qualifier

[3] Coco Gauff v Kamilla Rakhimova

[4] Amanda Anisimova v Simona Waltert

[5] Elena Rybakina v Kaja Juvan

Top seed and two-time champ Aryna Sabalenka rightly enters the field as the heavy favourite, but six-time major winner Iga Świątek will aim to stop her rival by completing her own career Slam.

Sabalenka won't have it easy in the early rounds, with dates against 17th seed Mboko and 14th seed Clara Tauson in rounds three and four.

Reigning champion Madison Keys is on course to face 22nd seed and former US Open winner Leylah Fernandez in the third round.