The 2026 Australian Open kicks off Sunday with a pair of intriguing first-round matchups featuring seeded players facing opponents who are anything but easy outs. Alexander Bublik and Alexander Zverev both enter with high expectations-and both could be in for early tests that challenge their composure and court craft right out of the gate.
(10) Alexander Bublik vs. Jenson Brooksby
Alexander Bublik enters this year’s Australian Open not just as a seeded player, but as a legitimate dark horse behind the tournament’s top contenders like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. And while he’s been in this position before, the results have been mixed.
His first experience in this role ended abruptly with a first-round exit at Wimbledon. But he bounced back at the U.S.
Open, reaching the fourth round before running into a red-hot Sinner. That run capped off a stellar 2025 season, where he captured four ATP titles and earned a spot as an alternate at the Nitto ATP Finals.
Bublik’s momentum has carried into 2026. He opened the season with a title in Hong Kong, showing no signs of slowing down. At 28, he’s playing the most consistent tennis of his career, combining his trademark flair with a newfound discipline that’s made him a threat on any surface.
But his opener in Melbourne is no walk in the park. Jenson Brooksby, back in the mix after a two-year suspension, is ranked No. 48 in the world and brings a unique, unorthodox style that can frustrate even the most composed opponents.
The American already owns a win over Bublik, a straight-sets victory back in 2022 at the Montreal Masters. That version of Bublik, however, was far less focused and far more erratic than the player we’re seeing now.
Brooksby’s quirky game-full of off-pace shots, funky spins, and disruptive patterns-can throw opponents off rhythm. But Bublik has evolved.
He’s still capable of highlight-reel shots, but now he’s pairing that with a more physical, aggressive baseline game that’s helped him take control of matches early and often. Against the old Bublik, Brooksby’s junk-balling might’ve worked.
Against this version? It’s going to be a tall order.
Prediction: Bublik in 3
(3) Alexander Zverev vs. Gabriel Diallo
For Alexander Zverev, the stakes are growing with each passing Slam. At 28, he’s still chasing that elusive first major title while the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner continue to rise and separate themselves from the pack.
Zverev came close again last year, making it all the way to the Australian Open final before getting overwhelmed by Sinner in straight sets. It was his third runner-up finish at a Slam-another reminder of how close he’s come, and how far he still has to go.
The end of his 2025 season didn’t inspire much confidence. He failed to make it out of the round-robin stage at the ATP Finals, and he split his two matches at the United Cup to begin 2026. So, while his ranking remains strong at No. 3 in the world, his current form is a bit of a mystery heading into Melbourne.
His first-round opponent, Gabriel Diallo, is not someone you want to face when you’re searching for rhythm. The 24-year-old Canadian is ranked No. 41 and brings serious firepower with a big serve and forehand combination.
He’s already shown he can hang on the big stage, reaching the third round of the U.S. Open last year as a qualifier and pushing Tommy Paul to a fourth-set tiebreak.
Zverev has never faced Diallo before, and that could add another layer of uncertainty to this matchup. If the German comes out flat or falls into his passive tendencies-something we've seen in early Slam rounds before-Diallo has the tools to make this a real dogfight. Zverev’s ability to problem-solve and grind through adversity will likely be tested here.
Expect some big swings, a few tense moments, and a whole lot of baseline battling. Zverev should have enough to survive, but it might take him the distance.
Prediction: Zverev in 5
The Australian Open is known for its early-round drama, and these two matchups have all the ingredients: rising stars, comeback stories, and top seeds with something to prove. For Bublik and Zverev, the road to the second week starts with navigating dangerous first steps.