Overview
- Two‑time defending champion Jannik Sinner opens against France’s Hugo Gaston as he pursues a third straight Melbourne title.
- Carlos Alcaraz, the top seed, begins versus Australia’s Adam Walton and can face Sinner only in the final, with a potential semifinal against Alexander Zverev.
- Sinner is in the bottom half with Novak Djokovic and fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, creating a possible semifinal against either of them.
- Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti debuts against Raphael Collignon, Matteo Berrettini draws home favorite Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli faces Arthur Fery, Luciano Darderi meets Cristian Garin, and Lorenzo Sonego plays Carlos Taberner; Jasmine Paolini starts against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
- Pre‑tournament headlines included the one‑point exhibition won by amateur Jordan Smith after upsetting Sinner, and Musetti managing recent hip/back discomfort following a precautionary exhibition stop.