Round 1 of the 2025 Australian Open has concluded with some surprising results. The day featured unexpected upsets and victories, especially from two young players aiming to establish themselves in the Grand Slam arena.
One of the major upsets came when Russian player Andrey Rublev, seeded ninth, was defeated by 18-year-old qualifier Joao Fonseca from Brazil. Fonseca, playing in his first Grand Slam main draw, impressively beat Rublev 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-6(5) in a thrilling match that lasted over two hours. Fonseca’s remarkable performance earned him the title of the second teenager since 1973 to defeat a top-10 player in their Grand Slam debut.
“I just enjoyed every moment on this amazing court, it’s my first time playing in a huge stadium,” Fonesca said after the match. “I want to thank this amazing crowd. There are some Brazilians here… a lot of Brazilians here cheering for me!
“I was trying to not put pressure on myself, playing with a top-10 guy in a huge stadium. [I was] trying to call the crowd to help me. I just enjoyed playing my game.
“That’s one thing about myself, is that I play better in the important points, I go for my shots. That was the difference today.”
The fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev also faced a tough challenge against Kasidit Samrej from Thailand. After a back-and-forth battle, Medvedev managed to secure a victory and advance to the next round where he will face Learner Tien.
American players had a successful day in Round 1, with Taylor Fritz, Emma Navarro, Madison Keys, and Ben Shelton all securing wins against their opponents. Additionally, young American wildcard entry Iva Jovic showed promise by defeating her opponent and moving on to the second round.
Other notable players such as Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, and Ons Jabeur also had successful matches in the opening round, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.