Daniil Medvedev and Jesper De Jong will meet in the first round of the Australian Open on Sunday, January 18. The match will tentatively start at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Medvedev's last season was modest by his standards, as evidenced by his failure to qualify for the ATP Finals. However, he started the 2026 season perfectly by winning the Brisbane title, playing a "metronome-like" style of tennis. While his Australian Open draw is difficult — with a potential quarterfinal against Alexander Zverev and a semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz — his current form makes a deep run highly plausible.
Find my Australian Open First Round preview and Medvedev vs De Jong prediction for Sunday below.
Daniil Medvedev vs Jesper De Jong Player Prediction
- Medvedev vs De Jong Pick: Medvedev to Hit 10+ Aces
My Medvedev vs De Jong best bet is on Medvedev to hit 10+ aces in this match. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live Australian Open odds page.
Medvedev vs De Jong Odds
| Daniil Medvedev Odds | -1600 |
| Jesper De Jong Odds | +900 |
| Over/Under | 30.5 (-110o / -120u) |
| Medvedev vs De Jong H2H | 0-0 |
| Time | How to Watch | Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN, ESPN+ |
| Odds via Caesars | |
Daniil Medvedev vs Jesper De Jong Preview, Prediction
Daniil Medvedev Betting Preview
The 29-year-old is currently ranked 12th in the world and remains one of the premier players in the sport, even though he's slipped out of the top 10 — a scenario that seemed unimaginable just a couple of years ago.
However, Medvedev appears to be returning to the form that made him famous, and some experts even view him as a potential finalist here.
Medvedev can be considered the most prolific player of his generation. Compared to Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev or Stefanos Tsitsipas, his achievements are significantly more substantial. He's the only one among them with a Grand Slam title (the US Open, secured with a dominant 3-0 victory in the final against Djokovic).
Additionally, Medvedev reached the No. 1 spot during a complex era for men's tennis, with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal still in high form. His career is already Hall of Fame-caliber.
Despite the recent rankings drop, he looks poised to rejoin the top five or top 10 soon, provided he maintains his early-season rhythm.
Off-court, he remains a memorable presence. While often involved in conflicts — particularly with crowds �� these usually stem from a desire to entertain himself or be the center of attention rather than genuine malice. Over time, he's learned to manage unfriendly atmospheres more effectively.
His playing style is equally iconic; he often appears off-balance or awkward on court, yet his shots are incredibly effective. He possesses one of the world's best serves and is nearly impossible to hit through from the baseline.
His ability to endure long rallies and minimize unforced errors forces opponents to work exhaustively for every single point.
Jesper De Jong Betting Preview
Jesper De Jong is a 25-year-old Dutchman ranked 73rd in the world. De Jong isn't typically in the spotlight of men's tennis, though he's coming off what was — by his standards — a successful season. 2025 marked the first time he finished a year inside the world's top 100.
Before this rise, he was primarily known as a solid Challenger-level player. For the general public, he remains a relatively unknown figure, having not yet reached the final stages of major tour-level tournaments.
Sunday provides a massive opportunity to increase his notoriety, though a victory remains a daunting task.
De Jong is way shorter than his opponent today. However, he shouldn't be underestimated in terms of raw power; he generates significant force from the baseline and possesses a respectable serve that can be effective on fast courts.
Finishing in the top 100 has granted him the major advantage of direct entry into Grand Slam main draws. His recent highlights include a semifinal in Montpellier and a final in Bastad.
His start to the 2026 season has been poor, with two losses in two matches. He fell in straight sets to Gabriel Diallo in Hong Kong and lost to Thiago Agustín Tirante in Adelaide.
Given this form, his chances of an upset today are considered very low.
Medvedev vs De Jong Predictions, Betting Analysis
Medvedev is gradually rediscovering his peak rhythm. After winning the season opener in Brisbane, his confidence is high, and his serve has been clicking. He recorded 16 aces against Kamil Majchrzak, nine against Alex Michelsen and 10 against Brandon Nakashima recently.
Since this is a best-of-five sets match, there will be ample opportunity to rack up numbers.
De Jong is shorter than the average tour player and can be vulnerable on the return. He recently conceded nine aces in a short two-set match against Diallo.
I'm backing Medvedev to hit at least 10 aces on Sunday.
Pick: Medvedev to Hit 10+ Aces
