Upsets and Retirements Shake 2025 Australian Open Early Rounds

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The 2025 Australian Open has delivered a series of stunning upsets and dramatic retirements in its early stages, with unranked players and rising stars making headlines. The tournament, held at Melbourne Park, has already seen top seeds fall and veteran players bow out due to injuries.

Unranked American teenager Learner Tien pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, defeating No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev in a grueling five-set match, 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6. The 19-year-old qualifier, who entered the tournament with little fanfare, showcased remarkable resilience against the three-time Australian Open finalist. “I just tried to stay focused and take it one point at a time,” Tien said after the match. He will face Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the third round.

In another upset, No. 7 Jessica Pegula was defeated 7-6, 6-1 by unranked Olga Danilovic in the third round. Pegula, a consistent performer in recent years, had reached the quarterfinals in three of the past four Australian Opens. Danilovic, a 23-year-old from Serbia, capitalized on Pegula’s unforced errors to secure the victory.

Meanwhile, world No. 9 Andrey Rublev suffered a shocking first-round exit at the hands of 18-year-old Brazilian Joe Fonseca, who was making his Grand Slam main draw debut. Fonseca’s aggressive playstyle overwhelmed Rublev, who struggled to find his rhythm throughout the match. “It’s a dream come true to play here and win,” Fonseca said. “I just wanted to enjoy the moment and give it my all.”

Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, the 2022 men’s doubles champions, retired from their first-round doubles match due to injuries. The Australian duo was trailing 7-5, 3-2 against compatriots James Duckworth and Aleksandar Vukic when they called it quits. Kyrgios, who has battled injuries in recent years, hinted at a possible retirement from singles play after his first-round loss to Jacob Fearnley. “Realistically, I can’t really see myself probably playing singles again here,” Kyrgios said.

On the women’s side, two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round with a hard-fought victory over No. 20 Karolina Muchova, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3. It marks Osaka’s deepest run in a major tournament since 2022. “I’m just happy to be back and competing at this level,” Osaka said.

U.S. star Coco Gauff continued her strong form, advancing to the quarterfinals with a straight-sets win over Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Gauff, who reached the semifinals last year, could face a rematch with Aryna Sabalenka, who also secured her spot in the quarterfinals with a dominant performance against Clara Tauson.

The tournament has already seen several young players make their mark, signaling a potential shift in the tennis landscape. With the competition heating up, fans can expect more thrilling matches as the Australian Open progresses.