The 2025 Australian Open is about to begin. The first Grand Slam of the year tests players who are coming off a brief offseason and are ready to compete for one of the biggest prizes in tennis.
The story of the American men and their quest for a Grand Slam is well known. Andy Roddick was the last to win one at the US Open in 2003. Taylor Fritz got close at the 2024 US Open but lost to Jannik Sinner in the final.
Five Americans featured in three interesting first-round matches in Melbourne will be challenged from the first ball. Two of these matches will be all-American affairs.
Australian Open American Men Intriguing First Round Matches
1. Taylor Fritz vs. Jenson Brooksby
Fritz is coming off a successful opening to his 2025 season, teaming with Coco Gauff to help the US win the United Cup. He will be match-ready for fellow American Jenson Brooksby. Brooskby has been out of the game for nearly two years due to a wrist injury and a doping suspension from missing three drug tests. He turned pro in 2021 and ascended to a career-high World No. 33 ranking in June 2022. Brooksby recently confessed that he was severely autistic as a child.
Fritz and Brooksby played one ATP match before this one. It was in the Round of 64 at the 2021 US Open which Brooksby won in four sets, two of those sets were decided by tiebreakers.
2. Ben Shelton vs. Brandon Nakashima
The second all-American matchup features Ben Shelton and Brandon Nakashima. Shelton owns a 2-0 record against Nakashima with both wins coming in 2024. Though the wins were in straight sets (best of three sets), three tiebreakers were necessary while the other set finished at 7-5.
When these two play, it is close making it an entertaining match for Shelton, who as the top seed, was upset this week by Jakub Mensik in the Round of 16 at the ASB Classic.
3. Nishesh Basavareddy vs. Novak Djokovic
A battle of the generations ⚔️
Novak Djokovic takes on 19-year-old Nishesh Basavareddy in the #AO2025 first round! pic.twitter.com/6BMHhOAkrC
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) January 9, 2025
19-year-old newly minted ATP professional as of December 2024, Nishesh Basavareddy has been delighting fans at the ASB Classic. He played the qualifying rounds before defeating defending champion Alejandro Tibelo and fellow American Alex Michelsen in back-to-back matches in the main draw. Basavareddy will play Gael Monfils in the ASB Classic semifinal.
Basavareddy draws another tennis legend in the first round at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic. This is a tough draw for any player given Djokovic’s legendary status. However, Basavareddy has momentum and a steely cool composure on the court which can only help him.
Watch the 2025 Australian Open on ESPN.
