5 Australians will step out underneath native skies on Sunday as AO 2025 will get underway, with 4 dealing with their first-round opponents for the primary time.
Melbourne, Australia , 11 January 2025 | Jackson Mansell
5 Australians will take to the court docket on the opening day of Australian Open 2025.
Daria Saville and Li Tu headline the Magaret Court docket Area evening session on Sunday evening, whereas Aleksandar Vukic, Adam Walton and Omar Jasika will be a part of Tu as the primary of 14 Australian males to play at AO 2025.
[WC] Daria Saville (AUS) v Anna Blinkova
Head-to-head: Saville leads 1-0
Daria Saville will purpose to win her first Australian Open match since 2021 as she battles world No.75 Anna Blinkova.
After plantar fasciitis interrupted the Aussie’s 2024 season, the previous world No.20 completed the season on a excessive, profitable the Gold Coast Tennis Worldwide.
The world No.112 has a profitable document towards Blinkova – the lady who defeated world No.6 Elena Rybakina at Australian Open 2024 within the longest match tiebreak in main historical past. Saville prevailed towards Blinkova final yr in her run to the semifinals of the Hobart Worldwide, profitable 3-6 6-4 6-4.
The Aussie might doubtlessly arrange an Australian Open 2024 first-round rematch with Magdalena Frech if she defeats Blinkova. Saville and Frech duelled it out for 3 hours and 13 minutes, the second-longest ladies’s match at AO 2024.
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v Damir Dzumhur (BIH)
Head-to-head: First assembly
Aleksandar Vukic completed the 2024 season off strongly with some important wins.
The world No.67 certified for the Shanghai Masters, the place he beat world No.9 Casper Ruud. He then reached the Almaty Open semifinals, upsetting prime seed Frances Tiafoe.
Within the opening spherical, Vukic faces world No.83 Damir Dzumhur, who performs at his first Grand Slam in three years. Dzumhur gained six Challenger titles in 2024, probably the most of any participant on tour.
The Aussie got here agonisingly near his first Australian Open win since 2022 final yr, shedding to Jordan Thompson 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2 3-6 6-4 in simply over 4 hours.
Adam Walton (AUS) v Quentin Halys (FRA)
Head-to-head: First assembly
Adam Walton has been strong within the Australian Open lead-up tournaments. Regardless of first-round losses in Brisbane and Adelaide, Walton has proven promising indicators. He threatened to steal the primary set off world No.17 Frances Tiafoe on the Brisbane Worldwide, ultimately falling 7-5 within the tiebreak.
The Aussie performs Frenchman Quentin Halys within the opening spherical, who made inroads at Wimbledon final yr. Ranked world No.220 on the time, Halys defeated Christopher Eubanks and Karen Khachanov, earlier than falling to fifteenth seed Holger Rune in 5 units.
Walton, who broke into the highest 100 in 2024, will probably be hoping to show his honourable losses into profitable outcomes at Australian Open 2025.
[WC] Omar Jasika (AUS) v Hugo Gaston (FRA)
Head-to-head: First assembly
A resurgence in 2024 has Omar Jasika primed for this yr’s Australian Open. Highlighted by his 27-match profitable streak between August and October, Jasika rose to a career-high rating of world No.177.
At Australian Open 2024. Jasika misplaced in three aggressive units to ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz within the first spherical after a profitable qualifying marketing campaign.
The Victorian will play Frenchman Hugo Gaston on Court docket 3 first up on Sunday morning. Gaston hit some stellar type within the latter a part of 2024. The world No.81 gained the Lyon Challenger in June earlier than a finals look in Kitzbuhel, and a semifinal berth in Antwerp.
[WC] Li Tu (AUS) v [24] Jiri Lehecka (CZE)
Head-to-head: First assembly
Li Tu is able to ruffling a couple of feathers. The world No.179 took the opening set off Carlos Alcaraz at US Open 2024, in his first Grand Slam match in practically 4 years.
An analogous degree will probably be requested of him when he battles world No.24 Jiri Lehecka on Sunday. Like in 2024, Lehecka gained a lead-up event earlier than the Australian Open, claiming the Brisbane Worldwide.
The Czech No.1 is searching for to duplicate his efforts two years in the past and return to the second week.
Following qualification on the US Open and Shanghai Masters, Tu had a career-best season in 2024 and will probably be hoping to hold that type into Australian Open 2025. The South Australian made two Challenger finals within the second half of 2024, his greatest return in a season.
