There are no easy draws at a Grand Slam, and as the world’s best compete to reach the round of 16 at Australian Open 2025, the anticipation is palpable.
It was incredibly difficult to whittle down this list, but here’s a look at five upcoming third-round battles which should have fans riveted.
[2] Iga Swiatek vs Emma Raducanu
Polish world No. 2 Iga Swiatek has never lost a set to Emma Raducanu, and carries a 3-0 head-to-head lead into this clash. Still, the five-time Grand Slam champion is rightly wary of her rival’s abilities.
MORE: AO 2025 women's singles draw
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is ranked 61st in the world thanks to a pair of career-first top-10 wins last season, the second which came against Maria Sakkari in the third round of Wimbledon.
If she’s recovered from a niggling back issue, the Brit will be keen to snare a third top-10 victory when she takes on Swiatek, and has been playing with a level of fearlessness to make it possible. Raducanu has yet to drop a set at AO 2025 and reached the round of 32 for the first time in four tries courtesy of upsets over 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and world No. 35 Amanda Anisimova.
[4] Taylor Fritz vs Gael Monfils
America’s top-ranked male Taylor Fritz is oozing confidence and making winning look easy. The 27-year-old hasn’t conceded a break, dropping just eight games in six sets through his first two rounds.
MORE: AO 2025 men's singles draw
But it won’t be as straightforward against Gael Monfils, the French veteran who is experiencing a resurgence. By triumphing in Auckland last week, the 38-year-old became the oldest ATP Tour titlist since Ken Rosewall clinched his final title in 1977.
‘La Monf,’ once ranked as high as No. 6, has maintained that momentum in Melbourne, and delivered a stunning five-set upset over countryman and 30th seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round and a straight-sets defeat of Daniel Altmaier, 12 years his junior, in the second.
The pair’s only previous tussle was at AO 2019, when Fritz triumphed 6-3 6-7(8) 7-6(6) 7-6(5).
Naomi Osaka vs Belinda Bencic
If there’s a sense of déjà vu, it’s because Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic are about to do battle for a sixth time. But a lot has changed since Osaka won their last duel in March 2022 – both women have taken time away from the sport to give birth and returned, eager to make an impact.
Osaka, the four-time major champion and former world No. 1, and Bencic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold singles medallist and former world No. 4, each know the comeback trail isn’t easy. The Japanese star has been at it roughly 10 months longer than her counterpart, and reckons her fitness level is at its peak since her return.
The powerful right-hander stormed to the final of Auckland’s ASB Classic while this week at AO 2025, Osaka navigated tricky three-set victories over Caroline Garcia and 20th seed Karolina Muchova to reach her first third round at a Grand Slam since giving birth.
But Bencic is ready for the challenge and match tough, having earned a trio of qualifying wins in Adelaide before arriving in Melbourne, where she stunned 16th seed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets in the opening round.
[7] Novak Djokovic vs [26] Tomas Machac
Novak Djokovic, the 10-time AO champion whose longtime rival Andy Murray is now in his coaching box, has shown flashes of vulnerability during his first two matches in Melbourne. Unexpectedly, the Serb conceded sets to each of his first two opponents, wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy and qualifier Jaime Faria, ranked 107 and 125 respectively.
Though he lost to Tomas Machac in Geneva on clay last year, the 24-time major champion will back his tenacity and durability over five sets.
Still, the talented Czech’s confidence will be flying high. In addition to winning his last match against Djokovic, he’s fresh from a win over Reilly Opelka, Djokovic’s Brisbane International conqueror. The right-hander, who upset Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai last year, is becoming accustomed to top-10 victories and will be after another on Friday.
[6] Elena Rybakina vs [32] Dayana Yastremska
This is an intriguing first-time meeting between Elena Rybakina, the AO 2023 finalist and Dayana Yastremska, an AO 2024 semifinalist.
The 25-year-old Kazakh has dropped just five games in her first two matches against a pair of teenage opponents, both ranked outside the top 190. On Saturday, she’ll face her first real test of the tournament against the experienced Ukrainian, who has also been relatively untested so far, losing just six games in her opening two rounds.
Because Rybakina suffered a second-round upset in Melbourne last year, Yastremska – quite literally – has more to lose. The 24-year-old largely struggled after the year’s first Grand Slam last year, amassing a 12-20 win-loss record, which means her ranking is set to plummet if she can’t stage an upset.
The big server missed the entire Asian swing due to a back injury, returning for the year-end WTA Finals where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka but lost to Zheng Qinwen and Jasmine Paolini.