Australian Open Men's Singles First Round Spotlight: Berrettini vs. "Little Rabbit"!

As the opening Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open commands unique focus. After the draw was announced, many intriguing first-round clashes in men's singles came to light.

Berrettini vs. Deminor [6]

The home favorite had an unlucky draw, facing a formidable opponent in the first round. Both Berrettini and Deminor have reached all eight Grand Slam quarterfinals, but Berrettini has also made it to the Wimbledon final and the US Open semifinals, showing stronger performances in major tournaments. However, given Deminor's consistently high level and the boost from the home crowd, he is likely to advance smoothly.

Arnaldi vs. Rublev [13]

Although Rublev is now close to the top ten, he is still some way from his peak form. His opponent Arnaldi, despite not being seeded this time, should not be underestimated. If Rublev does not play at his best, there is a risk of an upset in the first round.

Dimitrov vs. Mahach

These two stylish players meet in the opening round. Mahach recently came from behind to beat Paul and reach the tour final, showing excellent form. In contrast, Dimitrov has struggled with injuries over the past year and may be forced to exit early.

Jarry vs. Wawrinka

This could be the last dance for the former tournament champion at Melbourne Park. Although Wawrinka showed good form at the United Cup, Jarry is no pushover, and Wawrinka might face a tough battle. Regardless, for this veteran, getting to watch him play a few more matches is already a blessing.

Hurkacz vs. Berrett

Who is most likely to be the biggest dark horse at this Australian Open? Many place high hopes on Hurkacz, a two-time Masters champion. Indeed, he played nearly flawlessly at the United Cup, helping Poland win the title after finishing runners-up twice in a row.

Shelton [8] vs. Humbert

Both players competed in this week's tour events. Shelton was stopped in the quarterfinals by Baez, while Humbert eliminated the top seed Fokina. Although not seeded this time, a duel between these two left-handers promises to be exciting.

Kachanov [15] vs. Mickelson

The US-Russia rivalry is frequent in men's tennis, with both countries producing notable players. Kachanov has reached a tournament semifinal; although his recent form is not outstanding, he should be able to get past Mickelson without much trouble.

Other Chinese players face tough draws against Shapovalov, Agut, and Cerundolo respectively, which is far from ideal. Rather than aiming to beat two seeded players, it might be more realistic to hope for a win over the experienced Spanish veteran.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qiye)