<p>Australia's great tennis hope Alex de Minaur enters the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/tennis/mens-australian-open/men-s-australian-open-winner-2026-8896398">2026 Australian Open</a> carrying an impressive streak into his first-round encounter against American Mackenzie McDonald.</p> <p>The match, scheduled for 12:30pm, presents what appears to be a straightforward opening assignment for the local favourite, who has dominated early Grand Slam rounds in recent campaigns.</p> <p>De Minaur's recent Grand Slam first round record speaks volumes about his reliability when opening major tournaments. The Australian has claimed victory in each of his last 14 Grand Slam first round matches, establishing himself as one of the most dependable early-round performers on tour.</p> <p>This remarkable consistency extends beyond just match wins, with de Minaur also capturing the opening set in each of his last eight completed Grand Slam first round encounters.</p> <p>McDonald arrives at Melbourne Park as a capable opponent but faces the daunting task of ending de Minaur's exceptional first round streak.</p> <p>The American will need to produce career-best tennis to trouble the heavily favoured Australian on his home turf, who enters this contest with significant advantages across multiple fronts.</p> <p>Can the Demon make it 15 straight first round Grand Slam wins, or is there an American ambush in the works? Let’s find out. Here are our Alex de Minaur vs Mackenzie McDonald prediction and betting tips.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>De Minaur vs McDonald Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Match Betting</h3> <p>The head-to-head market heavily favours de Minaur at $1.04, with McDonald available at $10.00, reflecting the substantial gulf in class and recent form between these competitors.</p> <p>De Minaur's outstanding Grand Slam first round record provides compelling evidence for backing the Australian, particularly given his perfect 14-match winning streak in opening rounds.</p> <p>The odds accurately capture de Minaur's superiority, especially on home soil where crowd support and familiar conditions provide additional advantages.</p> <p>McDonald's lengthy odds suggest an upset is highly unlikely, and the statistical evidence supports this assessment.</p> <p>De Minaur's consistency in early Grand Slam rounds, combined with his superior ranking and recent performances, creates a scenario where the favourite should comfortably advance.</p> <p>McDonald will need everything to fall perfectly to cause what would rank among the tournament's biggest first round upsets. De Minaur's proven ability to handle early round pressure makes him the logical choice in the match betting market.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/tennis/mens-australian-open/mackenzie-mcdonald-v-alex-de-minaur-10056570">Alex de Minaur.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Set Betting</h3> <p>Given de Minaur's dominance in Grand Slam first rounds and his perfect record of winning opening sets in recent campaigns, a straight sets victory appears the most likely outcome.</p> <p>The Australian's statistical profile suggests he typically establishes early control and maintains it throughout first round encounters.</p> <p>McDonald possesses enough quality to potentially challenge in individual sets, but de Minaur's superior fitness, court coverage, and mental strength should prove decisive over the course of a full match.</p> <p>The 3-0 scoreline at $1.59 represents solid value given de Minaur's first round dominance and home court advantage.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/tennis/mens-australian-open/mackenzie-mcdonald-v-alex-de-minaur-10056570">Alex de Minaur 3-0.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Total Match Games</h3> <p>The total match games market will likely be set conservatively given de Minaur's expected dominance.</p> <p>A straight sets victory for the Australian typically results in fewer total games, making the under an attractive proposition if de Minaur performs to expectations and maintains his first round winning streak.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/tennis/mens-australian-open/mackenzie-mcdonald-v-alex-de-minaur-10056570">Under total match games.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Where to Watch the de Minaur vs McDonald Australian Open Match?</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For those in Australia, you can watch the 2026 Australian Open First Round match between Alex de Minaur and Mackenzie McDonald on the Nine Network.</p> <p>Available on both free-to-air on Channel 9, and 9Gem, you can also watch the match online on 9Now. Alternatively, you can stream the match on streaming service Stan Sport.</p>