Moutet and Tien Clash in Australian Open Third Round

MELBOURNE, Australia — Corentin Moutet and Learner Tien are set to face off in a thrilling third-round match at the Australian Open on Jan. 18, 2025. Both players have shown remarkable resilience in their previous matches, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown.

Moutet, a French tennis player, has won four of his last five matches. This marks his first tournament of the season, and he has already made waves by defeating Popyrin and Krueger in the earlier rounds. Despite losing the first set in both matches, Moutet demonstrated his tenacity by turning the games around. His last appearance at the Australian Open in 2023 ended in the second round against Cerundolo.

On the other hand, Tien, a young American sensation, has won five consecutive matches. He successfully qualified for the main draw and has continued to impress, defeating Ugo Carabelli and Medvedev in grueling five-set matches. Tien’s victory over Medvedev, where he saved a match point, is considered the biggest win of his young career.

Bookmakers have labeled this match as a 50-50 contest, but some analysts believe Moutet’s experience and ability to play long rallies could give him an edge. Tien, who has spent nearly nine hours on the court in his last two matches, may face physical challenges against Moutet’s relentless style.

In another third-round match, Ben Shelton will take on Lorenzo Musetti. Shelton, who has lost three of his last five matches, started the season with a loss in Auckland but has since shown solid form in Melbourne. He defeated Nakashima and Carreno-Busta in straight and four sets, respectively. Shelton’s previous Australian Open appearances ended in the third round last year, where he lost to Adrian Mannarino.

Musetti, an Italian player, has won three of his last five matches. He reached the quarterfinals in Hong Kong earlier this season and has continued his strong performance in Melbourne, defeating Arnaldi and Shapovalov. Despite his solid form, bookmakers slightly favor Shelton, citing his superior hard-court skills.

Both matches promise to deliver high-intensity tennis as the players vie for a spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open.