The stage is set for the first Grand Slam tournament of 2025! World’s best players have already started to fasten their seatbelts for a blockbuster two-week showdown on the ‘Land Down Under’. The tournament starts on Sunday (January 12) at the Melbourne Park and will go on till January 26.

The Australian Open moved to a Sunday start instead of Monday for the first time last year, with the tournament getting extended to 15 days in order to avoid late-night finishes. The women’s singles final will take place on January 25, and the men’s final will be held a day after that. However, before getting to that part, let’s take a look at the Top-5 exciting matchups lined up for the first round.

1. Ben Shelton vs. Brandon Nakashima

Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima are two of the brightest prospects in American tennis. Both these players have faced each other two times in their careers and currently, Shelton leads the H2H scoreline by a 2-0 margin. Shelton has already established himself on the main Tour, while Nakashima has been slow and steady in climbing up the ladders. It’s going to be Ben Shelton’s power versus Brandon Nakashima’s resilience in this all-American clash at the 2025 Australian Open!

Both these players have an aggressive style of play and they love hitting big on the serves. Ben Shelton hit 619 aces last season, while Nakashima fired 403 aces against his opponents last year. After his win in the R16 of the 2024 Citi Open, Shelton heaped praise on his compatriot by calling him “a really tough opponent.” Ben Shelton (22) is currently ranked 21 in the world, while Brandon Nakashima (23) is ranked 37th. It’ll be interesting to see who wins this duel between the two young Americans. Hit aces and win the race!

2. Gael Monfils vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard

After analyzing a bit on the all-American clash, it’s time to focus on the ‘French affair’ at the 2025 Australian Open. It’s experience versus youth! The 38-year-old French superstar, Gael Monfils will take on the rising star, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (21) in the first round, and guess what? This is their first meeting! Monfils is known for his flamboyant tennis which comprises incredible athleticism and court coverage. His showmanship and high-risk shot-making skills make him a real entertainer on the court.

On the other hand, his opponent, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is more of an aggressive player who mainly relies on his powerful serves and strong baseline game to disrupt his opponent’s natural game. His monstrous serves and thundering groundstrokes are two of his lethal weapons. If we take a look at numbers, Perricard hit 532 last season, and guess what he has played only around four matches this season and he has already hit 85 aces! This youngster drew inspiration from players like Monfils and Tsonga while growing up and now, it’s perhaps time for him to take forward the French tennis. So be ready for this high-octane clash!

3. Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Alex Michelsen

The 2023 Australian Open finalist, Stefanos Tsitsipas will face the 20-year-old American, Alex Michelsen in the first round of the Australian Open. Both of these players have previously met each other in Tokyo. In that R32 match, Alex Michelsen defeated the current world number 11 in a three-set thriller. What will be the scoreline in this match, though? Time will tell! If we take a look at their playing styles, Michelsen is a youngster with an abundance of talent and he can be a very tricky opponent to face. His two-handed backhand along with an equally powerful forehand, can be really effective on this surface.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, on the other hand, is known for his signature one-handed backhand shot. For the first time in six years, the Greek has started his season outside the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings. Speaking about his upcoming missions for the next twelve months, he has already said, “I’m looking kind of reinventing myself. I felt like I’ve been stuck in a pattern over the last few months. I haven’t been able to kind of unlock the pattern or get out of it. I’m looking for a fresh, new 2025.” Can Tsitsipas make a winning start to his campaign at the 2025 Australian Open?

4. Coco Gauff vs. Sofia Kenin

The 2023 US Open champion is all set to take on the 2020 Australian Open winner in the first round. Coco Gauff and Sofia Kenin have faced each other three times in their careers so far, and interestingly, Kenin currently leads the H2H scoreline by a 2-1 margin. Gauff has been in superb form in the last few months, and she ended the year inside the Top 3, while Kenin is currently ranked 81 in the world. Talking about their playing styles, Coco Gauff is known for her incredible athleticism and excellent defensive game. She’s a “fighter” on the court and can generate real power behind her shots.

Sofia Kenin, on the other hand, is known for her aggressive brand of tennis. Her wide range of shots and incredible drop shots are two things that separate her a lot from other players. Her biggest weapons are her backhand-down-the-line and her inside-in-forehand. However, both these players have struggled with their serves in the last few years.

Coco Gauff hit 250 aces last season but committed 430 double faults! On the other hand, Sofia Kenin hit 250 aces and committed 126 double faults in 2024. So, this is one aspect of their game that they need to keep an eye on this enticing encounter. Who will you root for in this all-American clash, though?

5. Naomi Osaka vs. Caroline Garcia

Yes, yet again! Last year, Caroline Garcia defeated Naomi Osaka in the R128 by 6-4, 7-6 (2). That was their second meeting at the Australian Open. They had first met each other at the 2021 AO, where Osaka had the last laugh! However, currently, their H2H record is well poised at 2-2, and this is what makes this contest more interesting! Naomi Osaka has won the Australian Open twice (2019, and 2021) in her career, while Caroline Garcia’s best record has been reaching the R4 twice in 2018 and 2023. What did the players say about this ‘Deja Vu Down Under’?

Well, previously we heard Osaka say, “My goal now, I think to be seeded in Australia. I would really love that. I would love to avoid Caroline Garcia (smiling). Yeah, just being seeded. But not putting too much pressure on myself. I’m just trying to take it day by day.” Now, Caroline Garcia gave her reaction to the same. After seeing this draw, she tweeted, “New year, same draw 🔥 💣 @AustralianOpen This is starting to be a classic @naomiosaka 😂 .” Both these players are known for their aggressive baseline game, so this would really be an interesting contest to watch out for. Grab your popcorn buckets!

Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner are the defending champions at this hard-court mega event. On the other hand, Novak Djokovic is still searching for his 25th Grand Slam title. Iga Swiatek will be keen to silence all her haters, especially after what she had to go through over the last few months. While Carlos Alcaraz will be keen to find this missing puzzle from his incredible record at the Grand Slam tournaments, his best record at the AO was reaching the QF in 2024. There’s a lot at stake this year! Who’s your pick for the 2025 Australian Open?