AO 2025 - R2: Tien turns from Learner to master

The qualifier joins fellow teenagers Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca defeating Top 10 stars at the Australian Open.

Learner Tien / Deuxième tour Open d'Australie 2025©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT
 - Alex Sharp

The second round of Australian Open 2025 is done and dusted with teenagers continuing to disrupt the established order at Melbourne Park.

On Thursday night (well into the early hours Down Under) it was Learner Tien's time to shine. Here are the storylines you may have missed at AO 2025.

'Next Gen' more Gen Now

The tennis world was still marvelling over Brazilian wonderkid Joao Fonseca sending world No.9 Andrey Rublev packing in straight sets on Tuesday. Well, a day later Jakub Mensik launched 62 winners in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 scoreboard over world No.6 Casper Ruud, before Learner Tien's helter-skelter 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6[10-7] triumph over three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev. Tien relinquished match point in the third set, the four hours, 48 minute epic finished at 3am local time. That takes some doing on the main stage.

Three fearless, explosive shot-making teenagers have dismissed three Top 10 talents.

"I think belief is a big thing in succeeding and winning in general. I always go on the court believing that there's a chance I can win," stated Tien, drawing motivation from Fonseca and Mensik. "Yeah, I think it was definitely pretty inspiring. Just trying to almost join them. I think just seeing them, the wins they've had this week, just adds a little bit more belief that it's possible."

The Grand Slam success of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has brought in the changing of the guard, but these youngsters are muscling in for their say at the top table.

Fonseca (who lost to Lorenzo Sonego in five sets on Thursday), Mensik and Tien all featured at the Next Gen ATP Finals in December - so did Arthur Fils and Alex Michelsen.

World No.20 Fils prevailed past his fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 and will next meet his compatriot Ugo Humbert in the Last 32. As for Michelsen, the American has booked a third round clash with No.19 seed Karen Khachanov.

"All the young players who are playing here are trying their best to reach the same level, like Jannik and Carlos were a few years ago," said Mensik. "We can approach it the same and try to reach the same level, compete against them.

"It's great that there is a new blood always. We can see that tennis is moving on. We can see different or new names on the tournaments. For the fans, for the tennis, for everything, it's really great."

Osaka and Bencic major renaissance

AO 2019 and AO 2021 champion Naomi Osaka "left everything I had on the court,” to topple No.20 seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 to claim a spot in the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since giving birth in July 2023.

The four-time major winner knows exactly what it takes after maternity leave, which is what former world No.4 Belinda Bencic is currently discovering. 

Bencic (3-2 versus Osaka), competing in her first major since becoming a mother last year, surged into the Last 32 with 6-1, 7-6(3) against Suzan Lamens.

Who can take another impressive stride? Osaka vs Bencic is pure Box Office.

Three-time Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur recovered from breathing difficulties to edge Camila Osorio 7-5, 6-3 and will move on to face No.8 seed Emma Navarro.

WTA 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Paula Badosa proved she is a force to be reckoned with, swatting aside home hope Talia Gibson 6-1, 6-0. The blockbuster third rounds keep coming as Badosa will duel with No.17 seed Marta Kostyuk.

Great Britain's Emma Raducanu also collected a third-round ticket, posting 6-3, 7-5 with Amercian Amanda Anisimova. The US Open 2021 champion will need to attack without any limitations with world No.2 Iga Swiatek awaiting.

"I'm looking forward to going out there and testing my game against the best, because ultimately, you play tennis, and you live for these matches," said the world No.61, having lost the three previous meetings with Swiatek in straight sets. "It's going to be a great buzz of adrenaline."

First time feeling aplenty

A host of names will be making their debut in the third round at Melbourne Park.

Take Jack Draper. The US Open semi-finalist is tipped for another major step up in 2025. The No.15 seed has been pushed to the limit in two five-set tussles, pipping Thanasi Kokkinakis on Wednesday. It's another Australian in the Last 32, with Aleksandar Vukic enjoying the best Grand Slam run of his career on home soil. The world No.68 upset No.22 seed Sebastian Korda in another clash going the distance.

Corentin Moutet has made the second week at Roland-Garros (2024) and the US Open (2022), the unpredictable Frenchman will be vying for the Last 16 over the net from teenager Tien.

The high-flying Lorenzo Musetti, boys' singles champion Down Under in 2019, has already hurdled compatriot Matteo Arnaldi and former Top 10 player Denis Shapovalov. You won't want to miss the flamboyance of Musetti taking on the firepower of No.21 seed Ben Shelton.

Over to the WTA ranks and the likes of Diana Shnaider, Olga Danilovic and Jaqueline Cristian have broken new ground. A week ago, when losing in the qualifying third round to Destanee Aiava, Eva Lys wouldn't have thought a maiden Grand Slam third round was possible.

On Tuesday, finding out just 10 minutes before being called to court, the German grasped her 'Lucky Loser' opportunity to breeze past in-form Kimberly Birrell 6-2, 6-2. On Thursday, the world No.128 dispatched Varvara Gracheva in three sets.

"I don't think I have any words to describe it yet. I'm super happy. I had a great fight out there," said Lys, with Romania's Cristian next in the draw. "I was always telling myself in the third set, 'Listen, you could have been at home by now, but you're on court, so try enjoying it, try making the best out of it.' I'm incredibly happy that I'm in the third round for the first time in my life." 

Lys' fellow German Laura Siegemund relishes the 'underdog' tag and rose to the occasion once again with an 11th Top10 opponent scalp. The 36-year-old overcame last year's finalist Zheng Qinwen 7-6(3), 6-3 with a gritty performance.

Sabalenka and Sinner evade trouble

The majority of the key contenders continue to find their feet at AO 2025.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner reeled in Australian wild card Tristan Schoolkate 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3, whilst No.3 seed Carlos Alcaraz blazed past Yoshihito Nishioka by dropping just five games. "Am I a serve bot?" the Spaniard jokingly scribbled on the broadcast camera having struck 14 aces. His adjusted service motion and 5g heavier racket frame introduced in the off-season is working wonders already…

Meanwhile, 10-time champion Novak Djokovic set the record for the most ever Grand Slam singles matches (430), usurping his 'Big Three' rival Roger Federer, during a 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over qualifier Jaime Faria. Djokovic will need to rise through the gears in the Last 32 against the ever-improving Tomas Machac. The Czech defeated Djokovic on the clay of Geneva last year.

No.4 seed Taylor Fritz is flying, without conceding a break and surrendering just eight games through two matches. What can the evergreen showman Gael Monfils bring to the party in the third round?

Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka erased a 2-5 deficit in the second set to overcome Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3 7-5. The world No.1 has a tough upcoming task with Danish youngster Clara Tauson capable of devastating tennis too.

Unbeaten in 2025 across United Cup and in Melbourne, Coco Gauff defied Jodie Burrage 6-3, 7-5 and will collide with US Open 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez next. No.4 seed Jasmine Paolini was all business to defeat Renata Zarazua 6-2, 6-3. No.28 seed Elina Svitolina against RG 2024 runner-up Paolini is sure to be an enthralling encounter.