<p>Aussie Alex de Minuar’s Australian Open adventure gets underway this Monday. The No.8 seed has drawn Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in a tricky opening matchup.</p> <p>Zandschulp was ranked No.22 in the world as recently as 2022 and has made it to the third round of the Aus Open before.</p> <p>He will be the first of many obstacles in the Demon’s way as he aims to become the first Australian to win the men’s singles title Down Under since Mark Edmondson in 1976.</p> <p>Before we look that far ahead, let’s focus on the task at hand and dive into our Alex de Minaur vs Botic van de Zandschulp preview, ahead of their clash in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Alex de Minaur vs Botic van de Zandschulp Preview</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Both Alex de Minaur and Botic van de Zandschulp have only ever met once before. That was in the 2022 Davis Cup and supporters of the Demon will be glad to know he was that victor on that occasion.</p> <p>He still needs to be aware, as Zandschulp has recent experience of scalping superior opposition in the early stages of Grand Slams.</p> <p>He sent world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz packing in the second round of the US Open last year and even the staunchest de Minaur supporter would have to admit that Alex is not the same calibre of player as Alcaraz, at least not yet.</p> <p>He’s certainly on his way though. The 25-year-old Sydneysider enjoyed a very productive year on tour in 2024. He reached the last eight in three Majors, before his season was cut short due to a hip injury.</p> <p>An injury which is now well and truly in the rearview mirror, with the diminutive Demon moving as free as ever as he enters the AO as the highest seeded Australian male since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Alex de Minaur vs Botic van de Zandschulp Prediction</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>When consulting the head-to-head odds, you’ll find that de Minaur is the heavy favourite.</p> <p>That doesn’t mean this will be all smooth sailing for the homegrown hero, as big hitting Dutchman van de Zandschulp certainly has the style to trouble him.</p> <p>As is often his prerogative, we expect the Demon to look to move his much larger opponent around the court, particularly early on.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Utilising his superior agility, defence and cardio base, de Minaur will want to keep things at the baseline and take out his older opponent’s legs through sheer forced court coverage.</p> <p>If big bad Botic wants any chance of springing an upset here, he’ll need to keep the rallies short and take matters to the net, while making the most of his superior service game.</p> <p>This game plan should be good for at least one set, and we doubt he will make it easy for Alex to progress but progress he should.</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Alex de Minuar in four sets.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Alex de Minaur vs Botic van de Zandschulp Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Monday, January 13, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Time: </strong>TBC*</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>Rod Laver Arena*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>*Both time and location can change due to scheduling.</em></p>