The 2026 Australian Open Round of 16 play begins in the men’s draw, with the top half of the bracket narrowing to eight players in Melbourne.
The remaining matchups feature a mix of elite contenders, contrasting styles, and players looking to push deeper into the second week.
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Tommy Paul
Career H2H: Alcaraz 3-1
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz faces Tommy Paul for the fifth time, with their previous meetings often going the distance. Both players should be fresh, as neither has dropped a set through the first three rounds. Paul is working his way back from a disappointing 2025 season, and while Alcaraz enters as the favorite, this matchup shapes up as a tight one in Melbourne.
Alex de Minaur vs Alexander Bublik
Career H2H: de Minaur 3-2
We should see a battle when Alex de Minaur and Alexander Bublik meet for the sixth time. De Minaur is 0–2 against the much-improved Bublik, but he will have the home crowd behind him as Australia’s top-ranked player looks to reach his second Australian Open quarterfinal.
Alexander Zverev vs. Francisco Cerúndolo
Career H2H: Cerundolo 3-2
Alexander Zverev takes on Francisco Cerúndolo, with surface trends likely to play an important role. Zverev is unbeaten on hard courts against Cerundolo, but the Argentine arrives in strong form and has looked comfortable in Melbourne. This matchup has the makings of a long one in the Australian heat.
Daniil Medvedev vs. Learner Tien
Career H2H: Tien 2-1
This is a rematch of last year’s Round of 64, where Learner Tien scored a surprise win over Daniil Medvedev. Tien also beat Medvedev in Beijing, adding to the intrigue. Medvedev enters in strong form, having won 12 of his last 13 matches on hard courts, but the rising American will again test him in the heat after winning the 2025 ATP Tour Next Gen Finals.
For Further Reading
Australian Open 2026 – Men’s Singles
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- 2026 Australian Open Men’s Singles Championship Odds
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Phil Naessens is a tennis betting analyst and former tennis coach with decades of experience in player development and match analysis. He is the founder of Crush Rush News and host of the Crush & Rush Tennis Podcast, focusing on price-first betting strategy, market efficiency, and transparency in sports wagering.
