Seed shake-up for the Australian Open: Andrey Rublev drops as Alex De Minaur secures Top-8 position
ATP
Andrey Rublev's defeat at the Hong Kong Open has led to a last-minute change in the seedings for the Australian Open. While the seedings seemed settled just a week ago, Alex de Minaur has secured a spot among the top eight, leaving the Russian with a tougher draw than usual.
Since 2021, Rublev has been among the top eight seeds in 14 out of his 15 Grand Slam main draw appearances. The only exception was at the 2022 US Open, where he held the 9th seed and reached the quarterfinals, defeating 7th seed Cameron Norrie in the fourth round.
This marks the first time De Minaur will begin a major as a top-eight seed, ensuring he avoids facing higher-ranked players until at least the quarterfinals.
Rublev’s early Hong Kong exit costs him top-8 seeding
Rublev entered the Hong Kong Open as the defending champion and top seed, being the only top-15 player in the draw. However, he suffered a first-round exit against Fabian Marozsan (world No. 58), losing 240 points in the rankings. Meanwhile, De Minaur’s victories in the United Cup helped him defend part of the points at stake this week.
Despite Australia’s elimination from the United Cup, De Minaur’s two wins will see him climb to world No. 8 next week with 3,532 points—just 15 points ahead of Rublev. This ranking will determine the seedings for the Australian Open, as the Monday rankings set the official draw order.
Although players like world No. 7 Novak Djokovic and world No. 11 Grigor Dimitrov are still competing this week, their results will not impact their seeding positions.
Thus, the top eight seeds for the Australian Open are as follows:
1. Jannik Sinner
2. Alexander Zverev
3. Carlos Alcaraz
4. Taylor Fritz
5. Daniil Medvedev
6. Casper Ruud
7. Novak Djokovic
8. Alex de Minaur
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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