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MELBOURNE, January 19, 2026 – Alex de Minaur advanced to the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with a dominant 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Mackenzie mcdonald, showcasing his potential for a deep run at his home major.
De Minaur Dispatches McDonald in Straight Sets
The No. 6 seed needed just 108 minutes to secure his place in the next round, displaying focused intensity on Rod Laver Arena.
- De Minaur, seeded sixth, is the highest-ranked australian man at the tournament as Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.
- He dispatched McDonald,a lucky loser from qualifying,with clinical efficiency.
- Despite a history of quarterfinal losses, De Minaur’s consistency in the early rounds makes him a threat.
- The Australian’s second serve is a major weapon, winning almost 57% of points after a fault.
“It’s always a nervy start, starting in the Australian Open, playing at home, so I’m extremely happy with that performance,” De Minaur said after the match.
De Minaur had been scheduled to face former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, but the Italian’s late withdrawal opened the door for McDonald.Though, the American, despite a career-high ranking of 37, proved no match for the in-form Australian.
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