Bellucci v Ruud live stream and preview for Australian Open first round

Mattia Bellucci meets Casper Ruud in the Australian Open first round on hard courts on 18 Jan 2026, with a best-of-five test offering an early gauge of their new-season levels.

It is only the third week of the 2026 season, so the numbers are still thin, but the early indicators and the pricing point the same way. Below you will find the match-up analysis and the key angles, as well as where to watch or follow the match live.

Early hard-court sample offers little separation

Both players open 2026 with identical hard-court records of 1-2, which underlines how early the season still is. Ruud has protected his serve better in the small sample, saving 75% of break points faced compared with Bellucci's 58%, a useful buffer in long, best-of-five patterns.

Recent numbers underline Ruud's steadier baseline

Across the last 10 matches, Ruud's 6-4 record comes with stronger return output, winning 23% of return games and converting 44% of break points; Bellucci is 2-8 and has won 9% of return games, which leaves little margin when sets tighten.

Bellucci has still found some depth in qualifying, reaching the Auckland qualifying final in January before losing it, but Ruud's recent workload is heavier at 5 hours 6 minutes over his last three matches, a minor note to monitor if the contest drags.

Mattia Bellucci v. Casper Ruud Live Streaming

For reliable live streaming of this match, we recommend signing up with bet365. Please note that this service is strictly for users aged 18+ who maintain a funded account. Due to broadcasting rights, geo-restrictions may apply, so we advise checking the schedule to confirm availability in your location. In our experience, this is the premier option for watching the entire tennis season.

Bookmakers make Ruud a clear favourite

Bookmakers price Ruud at 1.2 against Bellucci at 4.5; the first-set prices are 1.36 versus 3.2. That gap reflects both the ranking spread and the expectation that Ruud can apply pressure early in a five-set setting.

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Return pressure may decide the early sets

With this match arriving at the start of the season, clean patterns are not yet fully formed, but the return numbers already hint at the likely stress points. Ruud has been far more efficient on return and on break chances recently, while Bellucci's path looks narrower if he cannot raise his first-set hit rate from 30%. Over best-of-five, that imbalance can grow, even if Ruud's recent minutes suggest he cannot afford a slow start.

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