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.

Australia’s Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter of Great Britain made some news before the scheduled United Cup competition between their nations on New Year’s Day.

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 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.