It has been a notable few days for some of the world’s best teenagers in the Australian Open 2025 men’s draw, and 19-year-old American Learner Tien showed on Saturday that he still isn’t done in Melbourne.
After standout wins for the likes of Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik during the opening week, Californian qualifier Tien collected his sixth victory of his stay at Melbourne Park – three in qualifying and three in the main draw – to book a spot in the last 16.
The youngster, who now sits at No.80 in the ATP live rankings, followed up his incredible final-set tiebreak win over Daniil Medvedev – that finished at nearly 3am – with a solid 7-6(10) 6-3 6-3 success over Frenchman Corentin Moutet.
His passage into the fourth round makes him the youngest player to reach that stage in Melbourne since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
As Tien was enjoying life out on Kia Arena, a quite incredible few hours were unfolding over at Margaret Court Arena.
Indefatigable 38-year-old Gael Monfils danced for joy after beating fourth seed Taylor Fritz in four sets on his 19th visit to Melbourne Park, a first top-five win at a major for the French showman since 2008.
After becoming only the second player aged 38 or over, after Roger Federer, to make the last 16 in Melbourne since 1988, Monfils joked he’d “warmed up the court” for his wife Elina Svitolina, who was next on the MCA schedule against another fourth seed, Jasmine Paolini.
And so it proved, as the power couple wrapped up the perfect day at the office when Svitolina – playing her first tournament since foot surgery last autumn – came from a set down to shock the Italian 2-6 6-4 6-0.
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek produced easily the cleanest performance of the day, as she thrashed former US Open winner Emma Raducanu for the loss of just a single game to get Rod Laver Arena play underway.
The world No.2 will take on lucky loser and world No.128 Eva Lys in the last 16 after the German’s fairytale run continued on Day 7.
A runner-up here in 2023, Elena Rybakina has dropped only 12 games in three matches as she swept aside Saturday’s victim Dayana Yastremska 6-3 6-4.
Former two-time semifinalist Madison Keys is waiting for her in the fourth round after the 19th seed won the battle of the Americans over an injured Danielle Collins 6-4 6-4 during the RLA night session.
Eighth seed Emma Navarro, Veronika Kudermetova and Daria Kasatkina are the other trio to move into the second week in the bottom half of the women’s draw.
Jannik Sinner was always in control on his way to making it 17 wins in a row by easing past American Marcos Giron at the top of the men’s draw. The defending champion will face 13th seed Holger Rune on Monday, the Dane outlasting Miomir Kecmanovic 6-7(5) 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4 just before 1am on Sunday morning.
Sinner is on a quarterfinal collision course with the last remaining Aussie in the draw, Alex de Minaur, after the home favourite won a crucial second-set tiebreak on his way to beating Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 5-7 7-6(3) 6-3 6-3.
‘Demon’ plays young American Alex Michelsen next, who is into the second week at a major for the first time after a straight-sets win over Karen Khachanov.
The second quarter of the men’s draw presents an incredible opportunity for those still going. One of Monfils, Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Sonego or the qualifier Tien will be a semifinalist from that section.
Former quarterfinalist Shelton came through an eye-catching match-up with Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6(5) and faces Monfils next.
There was better news for Italian fans earlier as Sonego won in four sets against Fabian Marozsan 6-7(3) 7-6(6) 6-1 6-2 to book a meeting with Tien.