‘Really sorry’ former World No.6 out in Demon boost; Djokovic’s confident call — Aus Open Daily

It is still a tough draw, but Alex de Minaur has been handed a boost to his chances of at least progressing to the second round after Matteo Berrettini pulled out of their scheduled match-up.

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Berrettini had been battling an illness ahead of his first-round meeting with de Minaur, having already withdrawn early in his match against Nicolai Budkov Kjaer at the Red Bull Bassline on Friday.

The hope was that the Italian would be able to recover in time for Monday’s tournament opener, which is scheduled for 1.30pm AEDT, but unfortunately the illness has forced him out with Mackenzie McDonald announced as the Australian’s new opponent.

“I’m really sorry to have to withdraw from the tournament,” Berrettini said.

“I have always enjoyed being and playing here and feeling your incredible support. Thank you to the tournament for their fantasic organisation and I hope to see all of you again very soon.”

Berrettini, the former world number six and a Wimbledon finalist, was obviously going to be much stiffer competition but McDonald is not to be counted out having stunned Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open in the second round.

Either way, while de Minaur’s path to a breakthrough grand slam semi-final appearance may be easier now, it remains daunting beyond the first round with Frances Tiafoe potentially waiting for the Australian in round three while No.10 Alexander Bublik and No.1 Carlos Alcaraz could then follow.

De Minaur though is embracing the challenge ahead of this year’s Open.

“Hey, if it was meant to be easy, everyone would do it so I’m excited for the challenge,” he said.

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DJOKOVIC’S CONFIDENT CALL IN BID FOR HISTORY

Novak Djokovic said Saturday he likes his chances at the Australian Open despite “missing a bit of juice” in the legs, declaring he can still beat anyone on his day.

The Serbian great, 38, is targeting a record-extending 11th title in Melbourne and elusive 25th major crown.

To do so he must get past Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who have shared the last eight Grand Slam titles since Djokovic won his 24th major at the 2023 US Open.

The former number one made the semis at all four majors last year and still has belief that he can take down the big two.

“Look, I know that when I’m healthy, when I’m able to put all the pieces of the puzzle together on a given day, I feel like I can beat anybody,” he said on the eve of the tournament.

“If I don’t have that self-belief and confidence in myself I wouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you guys or competing.

“I still have the drive and of course I understand that Sinner and Alcaraz are playing on a different level right now from everybody else.

“That’s a fact, but that doesn’t mean that nobody else has a chance. So I like my chances always in any tournament, particularly here.”

Should he upset the odds, Djokovic would finally move clear of Australia’s Margaret Court to stand alone with a record number of Slam titles.

He has been trying to do so for more than two years, but said it was something he did not want to dwell on.

“There has been a lot of talk about the 25th, but I try to focus myself on what I have achieved, not what I’m possibly achieving. I mean, I hope it comes to that, but 24 is also not a bad number,” he said.

“I have to appreciate that and remind myself of the amazing career I had. And also release some of that unnecessary pressure.”

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The world number four has not played a tour match since he defeated Lorenzo Musetti in the Athens final in early November.

He pulled out of the Adelaide International this month with what he called “a little setback”, and acknowledged he was not the physical specimen he used to be.

“I’m missing a little bit of juice in my legs, to be honest, to be able to compete with these guys at the later stages of a Grand Slam,” he said.

“But I’m definitely giving my best as I have in 2025… I’m still trying to be in the mix.

“I would love to have a chance to fight with one of those, or maybe both, of these guys here. Let’s see if that happens.”

He begins his campaign in Melbourne on Monday against 71st-ranked Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

AUSSIE IN A ‘BETTER PLACE’ AFTER HITTING ‘BREAKING POINT’

Russia-born Daria Kasatkina said Saturday she could “finally breathe” and called it a “special chapter” as she readies for her first Australian Open as a home player.

The gay 28-year-old changed allegiance to Australia last March having criticised Moscow’s attitude towards LGBTQ people and described the war in Ukraine as a “nightmare”.

The former world number eight, now ranked 48, launches her campaign in Melbourne against Nikola Bartunkova of the Czech Republic and is expected to get rapturous support from a bumper home crowd.

Kasatkina has already had a taste of what’s to come after being given a warm reception at season-opening events in Adelaide and Brisbane, admitting it nearly brought her to tears.

With the expectation comes pressure, but Kasatkina — who reached the fourth round last year — is determined to enjoy the occasion as a fully-fledged Australian.

“This is a good pressure, so I would choose this one compared to what I have been through in the past couple of years,” she said.

She added: “Now basically I’m going to play a home Slam and that’s a really special chapter in my life.

“I will try to enjoy it as much as possible.”

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Kasatkina ended her 2025 season early, having said in October that “mentally and emotionally I am at breaking point”.

She said on Saturday that she felt mentally in a “better place” now.

“The last season was very, very tough. You know, I was trying to get out of this hole basically,” she said, adding that she was looking forward to focusing more on her tennis and could not wait to wear the Australian colours.

“Definitely this transition last year, it wasn’t easy,” she said of changing the country she represents.

“I’ve got a lot of support, but also I got a lot of critics, you know, from the other side.

“It’s been difficult, but this is kind of what I have been dealing with for a couple of years.

She added: “Finally I can just breathe. I can live and just do my job and not be worried about the things which are not in my control.” The Australian Open begins on Sunday.

VENUS TO MAKE HISTORY AT MELBOURNE PARK

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams said Saturday she was “up for the challenge” as she gets set to become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open at age 45.

The United States great is back at Melbourne Park for the first time in five years and said she was grateful to have the chance to prove she still has what it takes.

The former world number one, now ranked 576, faces 68th-ranked Olga Danilovic of Serbia in the first round on Sunday after being handed a wildcard.

Williams has played only sporadically in recent years and lost in the first round of both of her warm-up tournaments.

“I’m super, super grateful for the opportunity from Tennis Australia. Grateful for the opportunity to play in front of the fans,” she said.

“I have just received so much support in the tournaments leading up, walking around the city and everything. My hope is to play my best.”

A five-time Wimbledon champion, Williams was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017 and won the doubles title four times alongside sister Serena.

“This is the greatest place on Earth to play,” she said.

“I have had amazing memories here. I love challenges, so I’m up for the challenge.”

Asked by reporters what it meant to trump Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015, Williams said: “I hadn’t thought about it till it came out in the press, so yay, yay for me.

“Let’s do this.”