In the first round of the 2025 Australian Open, two Russian players, Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, experienced vastly different fortunes. While Rublev suffered a stunning straight-set defeat to Brazilian qualifier João Fonseca, Medvedev managed to recover from a challenging start to defeat wildcard Kasidit Samrej in five sets.
Fonseca, who was making his Grand Slam debut, delivered a remarkable performance, dispatching the ninth-seeded Rublev 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-6 (5). The 18-year-old Brazilian showed immense composure and skill throughout the match, displaying powerful forehand winners and maintaining his focus during key moments. Despite Rublev taking a break in the third set, Fonseca showed maturity and held his nerve in a tight tie-break to close out the match. His 51 winners underscored his dominance, and the win marked a sensational start to his Grand Slam career.
On the other hand, Medvedev, the fifth seed and a finalist at Melbourne Park the previous year, had a much tougher time against the lowly-ranked Samrej. The Russian struggled in the early stages of the match, losing the third set and going down two sets to one. Frustration boiled over when Medvedev smashed his racket against the net, damaging a camera attached to it. However, Samrej, who had earned his wildcard by winning the Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff, began to show signs of fatigue, allowing Medvedev to recover. The Russian fought back to win the match 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Despite his poor start, Medvedev expressed optimism, attributing his eventual victory to the positive energy he felt from the recent birth of his second child. He acknowledged that without the new energy in his life, he might not have won the match.
The match between Holger Rune and Zhang Zhizhen also went the distance, with Rune emerging victorious after five sets. Similarly, Gaël Monfils triumphed in a thrilling five-set battle against his young compatriot Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The match was notable for Mpetshi Perricard’s blistering serve, which reached 144.2mph, the fastest of the tournament so far. Despite the power of the younger player, Monfils, who had won his first ATP Tour title in Auckland the previous weekend, claimed a hard-fought victory 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4. Monfils, who at 38 is one of the oldest players on the tour, dismissed concerns about his age, noting that it was just a number.
In contrast, Taylor Fritz had a much easier first-round match, breezing past fellow American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3. Fritz, the fourth seed, showed no signs of rust as he dominated the match, advancing comfortably to the next round.
The first round of the 2025 Australian Open proved to be a mixture of excitement, drama, and surprises. While Fonseca’s stunning victory over Rublev captured the attention of the crowd, Medvedev’s resilience in overcoming early adversity demonstrated his determination. Monfils and Rune’s five-set victories added to the intensity of the opening round, while Fritz’s smooth progression highlighted the dominance of some of the top seeds. With the tournament just beginning, it’s clear that more thrilling encounters are to come.
