Andrey Rublev will begin his Australian Open campaign with first round action on Monday, as he faces tough opponent Matteo Arnaldi. Reilly Opelka will compete against Nicolai Budkov Kjaer who will qualify.
Matteo Arnaldi vs. (13) Andrey Rublev
Rublev and Arnaldi will meet for the fifth time in their careers when they meet in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday. The head-to-head series is tied 2-2 after Arnaldi cruised to a 6-4, 7-5 victory at the 2025 Indian Wells Masters. Rublev, however, has won their other two court matches – 7-5, 6-3 at a home event in Vienna three years ago and 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals of the 2024 Montreal Masters.
While Rublev may not be in top form these days, it’s hard to have faith in Arnaldi. The 24-year-old Italian was one of the stars of the tour in 2023 and 2024, but he made a losing record last season. Arnaldi has won only two major draw matches since the Toronto Masters in late July. Rublev may not be consistent enough to win in straight sets, but the 15th-ranked Russian should get into the second round without too much trouble.
Select: Rublev in 4
(Q) Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs. Reilly Opelka
Budkov Kjaer has started to make a name for himself on the big tour. One of the best young players in recent seasons, the 19-year-old Norwegian played in the NextGen ATP finals last month. He reached the semi-finals defeating Martin Landaluce and Raphael Jodar before falling to Alexander Blockx. Budkov Kjaer already has three wins under his belt at Melbourne Park, successfully qualifying for the main event (losing to Yosuke Watanuki, James McCabe, and Pierre-Hugues Herbert).
Next up for the world number 135 on Monday is a first-ever match against Opelka. As with any game involving Opelka, the margins are sure to be slim as there are very few breaks. If so, confidence in winning multiple games is essential in stressful times. Budkov Kjaer has plenty of it, as Opelka is 2-2 so far this year (second-round losses in Brisbane and Adelaide) and 2-4 in its last six games dating back to last fall. A minor upset may be on the cards.
Pick: Budkov Kjaer at 5
