Mackenzie McDonald is slightly favored to win against Dmitry Popko based on higher ATP ranking, stronger hard-court results over the past 12 months, and more consistent performances at Grand Slam level; typical opening odds in recent markets for similar matchups have McDonald around 1.45–1.60 and Popko around 2.30–2.70, reflecting this edge with DexWin - Best Odds on Your Favourite Sports.

The match between Mackenzie McDonald and Dmitry Popko at the Australian Open is scheduled to start at 11:00 PM UTC on 12 January 2026, which corresponds to 10:00 AM AEDT on 13 January 2026 in Melbourne, Australia.

This Australian Open clash will be played at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, with the match most likely assigned to one of the show courts such as John Cain Arena or an outer show court; Melbourne Park features Plexicushion/DecoTurf-style hard courts, moderate court speed, and a total complex capacity of over 30,000, including Rod Laver Arena’s retractable roof for extreme heat or rain.

Prediction: Mackenzie McDonald to win, as his hard-court hold/break combined numbers over the last season have been notably stronger than Dmitry Popko’s, and he has more experience against top-50 opposition; at indicative odds of around 1.50 for McDonald and 2.50 for Popko, the implied probabilities slightly underrate McDonald’s consistency, making a straight-sets win for him a reasonable value angle.

There is no significant ATP Tour-level head-to-head record between Mackenzie McDonald and Dmitry Popko, and any prior meetings have been negligible or at lower-tier events, so this first main-draw Australian Open meeting will largely be defined by current form, hard-court statistics, and how each adapts to Melbourne’s outdoor conditions.