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 will launch his Australian Open campaign against big-hitting Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, while other Aussie men including Nick Kyrgios have learned their fates.

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.