Taylor Fritz sees no reason not to be full of confidence given his form heading into the Australian Open.

Fritz, who is making his ninth main draw appearance in Melbourne, began his campaign with a comfortable 6-2 6-0 6-3 defeat of fellow American Jenson Brooksby on Tuesday.

Last year's US Open runner-up, who helped the United States win the United Cup in the lead-up to the season's first major, is the first American to hold a top-five seeding in the men's singles at a grand slam since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2010, and the first at the Australian Open since James Blake in 2007.

The world number four's victory was his 201st on the ATP Tour since the start of 2020. He is the only non-European player to have claimed 200+ Tour-level match wins in that time.

And having rounded out 2024 with impressive runs to the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters and the final of the ATP Finals in Turin, Fritz is full of self-belief as he aims to clinch a maiden grand slam crown.

"I'd say my confidence is, like, I don't know, it's pretty high, like an eight [out of 10]," said the 27-year-old.

"[It was] even better toward the end of last year. Sometimes, when you're playing really well at the end of the year, the off-season almost kills the momentum a little bit.

"I've been playing pretty well since the start of the year. United Cup I played pretty good. There's no reason for me not to be very confident."

Asked if he had set any particular goals for his 2025 season, Fritz replied: "I haven't thought about it too far ahead.

"I think the general goal right now is to have just big results at the big tournaments. I would like to win a big title this year.

"I would really want to be in another slam final and just give myself – obviously the goal is to win – but another opportunity at winning a slam would be great."

Fritz will take on Cristian Garin in the second round.