The opening day of the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne was rocked by the high-profile withdrawals of two major contenders, dealing a significant blow to the tournament's early narrative.
Home Hopes Dashed as De Minaur Succumbs to Injury
Australian number one Alex de Minaur was forced to pull out just hours before his scheduled first-round match against a qualifier. The devastating news for local fans came due to a severe hip injury. De Minaur, a prominent figure in the sport and a genuine hope for home success, revealed he had suffered the injury during his final preparatory tournament.
"I did everything I could to get myself ready," the dejected star stated. His absence leaves a considerable void in the men's draw and is a bitter disappointment for organisers and spectators who had pinned their hopes on his deep run.
Berrettini's Melbourne Misfortune Continues
In a cruel twist of fate, Italian powerhouse Matteo Berrettini also withdrew before stepping onto the court. The 2022 finalist was set to face Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic but was sidelined by a persistent foot injury. This continues a wretched run of luck for Berrettini at Melbourne Park, where physical setbacks have repeatedly hampered his campaigns.
His withdrawal marks another chapter of frustration, denying the tournament a player capable of producing the explosive, big-serving tennis that has taken him to the latter stages before.
Tournament Ramifications and Revised Draw
The dual exits caused immediate reshuffling of the day one schedule. Lucky losers from qualifying were swiftly promoted to take the vacant spots in the main draw. For Berrettini's intended opponent, Kecmanovic, this meant a sudden and significant change in opposition, potentially altering his path through the tournament.
These withdrawals underscore the immense physical demands of modern tennis, particularly at Grand Slam level. They also highlight how quickly the landscape of a major can shift, with title contenders falling before a single ball is struck in anger. The focus now turns to how the tournament will adapt and which players might capitalise on the unexpected openings in their respective sections of the draw.
For de Minaur and Berrettini, the immediate future involves recovery and rehabilitation, with the rest of the season now the primary concern after their Melbourne dreams ended before they could begin.
