It was the opening round of the 2017 Australian Open in de Minaur’s first main draw at his first major championship in his home country, when the then-17-year-old saved a match point in the fourth set before beating Gerald Melzer in five sets and almost four hours.

Alex de Minaur has generated much excitement among Australian fans after winning two titles, qualifying for the ATP Finals and breaking into the top 10 last year but he is determined to ignore the hype as he heads into his home Grand Slam.

Alex de Minaur enters this year's Australian Open as a top-8 seed for the first time in his career. After reaching the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open last season, the Aussie will look to go deep at his home tournament.

Alex de Minaur will have his work cut out early at the Australian Open after drawing dangerous Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in round one at Melbourne Park.