Matteo Arnaldi defeated Adam Walton 7–6, 6–2, 6–4 in the first round of the Australian Open on hard court on 14 January 2024, confirming his status as the heavy pre-match favourite. Arnaldi, priced at 1.22, controlled proceedings after a competitive opening set that required a tiebreak, then accelerated through the second and third sets to secure a straightforward victory. Walton, the significant underdog at 4.84, offered limited resistance once Arnaldi found his rhythm, allowing the Italian to progress without serious threat. The result extends Arnaldi's early-season momentum and sets up a second-round clash against stronger opposition.