Alex de Minaur is gearing up for the Australian Open, feeling confident despite a daunting first-round matchup against the powerful Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp. This grand slam marks a significant milestone for de Minaur, as he is seeded in the top eight for the first time, highlighting his rise in the sport.

Van de Zandschulp, while currently ranked 82nd, has previously achieved a ranking of 22 and has a notable victory over four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz from the US Open last year. If de Minaur succeeds in his opening match, he will then face either a qualifier or Argentine player Federico Coria in the second round.

Potentially lurking in the third round for de Minaur is Francisco Cerundolo, the 31st ranked player from Argentina, while the last 16 could see him matched against last year's runner-up, Stefanos Tsitsipas. De Minaur reflects on his past performance, where he reached three consecutive grand slam quarter-finals, a feat not accomplished by an Australian since Lleyton Hewitt, and hopes to end the long-standing title drought at Melbourne Park.

Excited about playing on home soil, de Minaur shared his enthusiasm with fans at the ASICS Tennis Summit, expressing gratitude for their support. Meanwhile, other Australian competitors are also feeling the pressure, including Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson, who face tough early rounds.

For the women’s draw, promising teen Emerson Jones is set to make her debut against former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, while top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka aims for a title hat-trick against Sloane Stephens. Sabalenka expresses her desire to place her name among the sport's legends. Novak Djokovic, chasing his 25th grand slam singles title, is also set to play a wildcard in the opening round.