The six United Cup matches that will provide Australian Open clues

SOURCE:Sydney Morning Herald|BY:Billie Eder

Australian Open favourites are getting their seasons underway in Sydney and Perth. Here are the must-watch matches and what they mean ahead of the first slam.

There are two obvious absentees from the lead-up tournaments to the 2026 Australian Open: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Warm-up events are being held in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart, and Adelaide before the first grand slam of the season, but the top two men’s players in the game will not be involved.

Some of the stars in action ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.

Some of the stars in action ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.Credit: Getty,AP

However, there will plenty of big-name Australian Open contenders in action down under before the first grand slam of the year kicks off at Melbourne Park on January 18, including Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur.

Here are six of the best matches to watch across the next week.

Alex de Minaur v Casper Ruud

Saturday, January 3; Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney

Alex de Minaur practising ahead of the 2026 United Cup in Sydney.

Alex de Minaur practising ahead of the 2026 United Cup in Sydney.Credit: Oscar Colman

Australia’s world No.7 Alex de Minaur made it to the quarter-finals in his home grand slam in 2025. Can he go further this year?

A match against Norway’s Casper Ruud, a three-time major runner-up, at the United Cup to start the season will be a great test.

De Minaur came out on top in a recent exhibition match between the pair in London, while the Australian has beaten Ruud in their two official meetings on tour.

De Minaur wouldn’t expect to face an opponent as strong as Ruud until the second week of a grand slam, so this contest will be a good indicator of his form.