25. Learner Tien
A bad tiebreak away from crashing out, Tien adjusted well to not only clutch up but also go on to dominate the fifth set in yet another Major first-round victory.
24. Arthur Rinderknech
The Frenchman came into the match with physical concerns, and it showed. He was never fully able to impose himself and exited in the first round.
23. Tallon Griekspoor
The Dutchman’s run of poor form continued, as he lost in fairly one-sided fashion in a match he probably should have been more competitive in.
22. Luciano Darderi
Not typically known for his hard-court game, Darderi did well to overcome a fellow clay-courter and claim a confidence-boosting first-round win.
21. Denis Shapovalov
Shapovalov remains one of the most unpredictable players on tour. Against Bu, he showed flashes of his best level and managed to navigate his way through.
20. Flavio Cobolli
The first-seeded player to fall at this tournament, Cobolli will be deeply disappointed with how his time in Melbourne unfolded.
19. Tommy Paul
With fitness concerns surrounding him coming into the match, Paul answered most of those questions emphatically with a straight-sets win.
18. Francisco Cerundolo
A solid opening performance, and with a manageable second-round opponent ahead, another third-round appearance looks very realistic.
17. Jirí Lehecka
While it was clear Lehecka wasn’t fully fit, few expected him to lose in such a dominant fashion, as he had a frustrating early setback to his season.
16. Jakub Mensik
Burying some past demons, Mensilk won a five-set match for a change. In these conditions, he could be one to watch going forward.
15. Karen Khachanov
In a rematch of his humbling defeat here last year, Khachanov produced a strong performance to come through a tightly contested five-set battle.
14. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
The Spaniard won his first-round match comfortably and now sets up an intriguing second-round clash with big-serving Reilly Opelka.
13. Andrey Rublev
Rublev, who has arguably slipped a tier in the tennis elite hierarchy over the past year, delivered a complete performance and took care of business efficiently.
12. Casper Ruud
Arriving in Melbourne with concerns surrounding both his form and fitness, Ruud responded with a solid display to extend his stay at the tournament.
11. Daniil Medvedev
The former world No.1 looks better with each passing match this season and now has a golden opportunity to reach the third round of a Major for the first time in over a year.
