Mackenzie McDonald vs Liam Draxl

Thursday's Australian Open action features a first-round encounter between Mackenzie McDonald and Liam Draxl. The odds heavily favor McDonald, with his moneyline price averaging 1.35 compared to Draxl's 3.04. This reflects McDonald's greater experience at this level and his proven hard-court capabilities, which should provide a significant test for the qualifier Draxl.

While McDonald is the clear favorite, Draxl arrives with momentum from qualifying and will look to use his aggressive game to disrupt the American's rhythm. For McDonald, a clean performance with minimal errors will be key to advancing as expected and avoiding an early upset in Melbourne.