The 2024 main season ended with two Americans — Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula — taking part in for the singles titles on the US Open. Their collective success, in addition to that of different Americans all year long, arrange excessive expectations for 2025.
With 14 males and 19 ladies competing in the principle attracts on the Australian Open, it appeared as if probabilities had been excessive for extra deep runs on the yr’s first Slam. Now that we’re formally into the second week in Melbourne, it is protected to say, the American contingent resides as much as the hype. A history-making six males and 5 ladies from the United States reached the third spherical.
While Fritz and Pegula were upset within the spherical of 32, and different notable names resembling Frances Tiafoe and Amanda Anisimova had been additionally despatched residence early, seven Americans stay — probably the most within the spherical of 16 on the Australian Open since 2004.
Three of these nonetheless contending — Coco Gauff, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien — are beneath 21 years previous. In reality, this marks the primary main since 1991(!) by which two American males 20 or beneath have reached the second week.
No American has received the title Down Under since Sofia Kenin did so in 2020, and no American man has achieved it since Andre Agassi claimed victory in 2003.
Will this be the yr fortunes change for these representing the pink, white and blue? Here are the Americans remaining within the draw, how they received right here and what (or who) stands between them and the quarterfinals.
Coco Gauff
Who she has crushed to date: Sofia Kenin, Jodie Burrage, No. 30 Leylah Fernandez
Up subsequent: Belinda Bencic
Despite being simply 20 years previous, Gauff has been one of many nation’s most constant performers over the previous two seasons. She received her first and solely (for now, anyway) main title on the 2023 US Open, and after making some technical and personnel changes along with her staff, she recovered from a difficult 2024 season by closing it out with the trophy on the WTA Finals.
The No. 3-seeded Gauff has opened the 2025 season with eight consecutive victories — changing into simply the fifth lady within the Open Era to attain such a report — and helped lead the U.S. staff to a championship on the United Cup earlier this month. In the ultimate, she defeated world No. 2 and five-time main champion Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 for her second straight win over the Polish famous person.
In Melbourne, Gauff has but to drop a set and has charmed the crowds along with her Marvel-inspired looks and funny on-court interviews. Although Gauff struggled along with her forehand early within the match in opposition to Fernandez, she remained unfazed and closed out the match in simply 75 minutes, advancing to the second week of a Slam for a staggering 14th time.
While many followers had hoped for a showdown with Naomi Osaka within the subsequent spherical, Osaka was pressured to retire from her third-round match due to an stomach damage. Gauff will as an alternative face Bencic, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist who returned from childbirth earlier this month. The two have performed twice beforehand, with the collection cut up. Gauff received their final assembly within the quarterfinals in Washington, D.C., in 2023, en path to the title and in the beginning of her wildly profitable hard-court summer time season.
But Gauff did not appear too involved about her subsequent opponent, and even about matching her 2024 semifinal outcome on the match, and as an alternative shared her newfound perspective Friday after the win over Fernandez.
“Tennis feels so excessive stakes, nevertheless it’s actually not,” Gauff mentioned. “I’m so fortunate to do what I do — [and] additionally receives a commission doing it. “My largest factor I realized final yr is simply to not take something without any consideration, and [I] simply realized this time goes to go by so quick.
“Hopefully, it does not really feel prefer it within the second however I’m certain 20 years from now I’ll be, ‘Dang, generally I want I may return.’ I’m simply making an attempt to get pleasure from it whereas I’m right here.”
Who he has crushed to date: Christopher O’Connell, Kei Nishikori, Roberto Carballes Baena
Up subsequent: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
The 27-year-old had the most effective main results of his profession in Melbourne in 2023 when he reached the semifinals — and he definitely appears to be like like he is able to repeating that feat once more this time round.
Paul, the match’s No. 12 seed, had dramatically totally different matches all through the primary week. He wanted 5 units (and a medical timeout for therapy on his shoulder) to get previous O’Connell, an Aussie who had the gang behind him, within the first spherical, however then recorded bagel units in opposition to each Nishikori and Carballes Baena. In his third-round 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-0 victory over Carballes Baena, Paul had 56 winners to 29 unforced errors, and he received 37 of 46 web factors.
“That’s positively the sport plan coming in, for many of my matches, attempt to get to the web and play aggressive,” Paul mentioned throughout his on-court interview after the match. “Today it labored out. I used to be proud of how I performed.”
Paul defeated Davidovich Fokina within the spherical of 64 throughout his triumphant 2023 Australian Open — and within the two different matches they’ve since performed, each additionally in 2023. But that definitely doesn’t suggest a victory is assured. Davidovich Fokina has confirmed he can by no means be counted out this week as he grew to become the primary man in 20 years to earn consecutive two-set comeback wins on the Australian Open.
And no matter what occurs within the fourth spherical or past, Paul is predicted to interrupt into the highest 10 for the primary time in his profession when the rankings are launched following the Australian Open. He is presently No. 9 within the reside rankings.
Who she has crushed to date: Peyton Stearns, Wang Xiyu, Ons Jabeur
Up subsequent: No. 9 Daria Kasatkina
The No. 8 seed Navarro had a breakthrough season in 2024, reaching the semifinals on the US Open and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, along with profitable her first WTA title (Hobart) and making the Olympic staff.
While she went simply 1-2 in her two lead-in tournaments forward of the Australian Open, it appears the 23-year-old has introduced her greatest, or at the least grittiest, tennis to Melbourne. She has wanted deciding units in all three matches to this point, and she or he managed to carry off a resurgent Jabeur in Saturday’s third-round conflict, profitable 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
“I really like three units! I really like tennis a lot I can not resist, I received to play three units” Navarro joked on courtroom after the match. “I simply needed to stay in there and maintain believing in myself and know that if I put myself in the most effective place to do what I need to do, then possibly I’ll come out and prime. I used to be ready to try this.”
She then went on to credit score her dad for her endurance in lengthy matches and the way he used to “drag” her and her siblings into grueling hikes and bike rides.
Navarro, a former NCAA champion, is now into the fourth spherical on the occasion for the primary time — and she or he has reached the second week in any respect 4 majors in simply her ninth Slam look. She is the one American lady moreover Gauff to have reached the 4 main fourth rounds for the reason that begin of final season.
She will tackle Kasatkina, a 2022 French Open semifinalist, on Monday of their first profession assembly. The 27-year-old Kasatkina has not misplaced a set to date in Melbourne and has dropped simply 12 whole video games.
Alex Michelsen
Who he has crushed to date: No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas, James McCabe, No. 19 Karen Khachanov
Up subsequent: No. 8 Alex de Minaur
There is maybe nobody within the match with a extra spectacular run to the fourth spherical than 20-year-old Michelsen.
Making simply his second look on the Australian Open — and having reached the third spherical throughout his debut in 2024 — Michelsen is the third-youngest American man since Andy Roddick did so in 2003 to achieve the second week in Melbourne, and the sixth youngest within the Open Era. He can be simply the third U.S. males’s participant since 1990 (14 years earlier than he was born) to defeat two ATP top-20 gamers earlier than the spherical of 16 at a serious.
During his first-round stunner over Tsitsipas, a 2023 finalist on the occasion, Michelsen performed fearless tennis and took management early. Despite the second and the opponent, Michelsen and his confidence by no means wavered. He defeated his far-more-experienced opponent in 4 units. On Saturday in opposition to Khachanov, a 2023 Australian Open semifinalist, he received in straight units and efficiently thwarted any of Khachanov’s efforts to get again into the match.
“I performed unbelievable for many of the match,” Michelsen mentioned on courtroom. “I do not know what is going on on. … I’ve by no means hit my forehand that properly. I’m tremendous glad and hope to maintain this momentum going.”
Having already received over the gang together with his audacious play, he continued to enamor followers within the stands as he joked about not having time to correctly chat together with his mom again residence in California earlier within the day.
“Mom, hello! I’m sorry I solely referred to as you for a minute this morning. I had issues to do,” he mentioned wanting into the digital camera. “I really like you. I miss you. I hope every thing’s good at residence.”
Currently ranked No. 42, Michelsen is now projected to rise to a profession excessive of No. 34 within the newest rankings after Saturday’s win — and can be simply exterior the highest 30 with one other victory. He has twice performed in opposition to De Minaur, splitting their two matches however profitable their lone hard-court contest in Los Cabos this previous February 6-4, 6-1.
Who she has crushed to date: Ann Li, Elena-Gabriela Ruse, No. 10 Danielle Collins
Up subsequent: No. 6 Elena Rybakina
Perhaps probably the most skilled American remaining, the 29-year-old Keys is a two-time semifinalist in Melbourne and in addition performed within the 2017 US Open last. The No. 19 seed opened her 2025 season with a quarterfinal look in Auckland and the title final week in Adelaide. She is now using an eight-match win streak into the fourth spherical, following her 6-4, 6-4 third-round victory over fellow American (and tournament villain) Collins on Saturday.
The victory marked her fifth win over a top-10 opponent on the Australian Open however her first since beating Barbora Krejcikova, the then-No. 4 seed, within the quarterfinals in 2022.
“I’ve been taking part in some good tennis,” Keys mentioned on courtroom Saturday night time. “I all the time actually love taking part in in Australia.”
Keys now appears to be like to achieve her eleventh main quarterfinal however will first should get previous Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, on Monday. They have every received twice of their head-to-head collection, with Rybakina taking their most up-to-date assembly in Miami final yr. Keys received their solely earlier showdown at a serious, nevertheless, with a three-set victory within the third spherical on the 2022 French Open.
Learner Tien
Who he has crushed to date: Camilo Ugo Carabelli, No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, Corentin Moutet (Qualifying: Gregoire Barrere, Juan Pablo Ficovich, Jozef Kovalik)
Up subsequent: Lorenzo Sonego
Easily among the finest tales of the match, the 19-year-old Tien has gone from qualifying to the fourth spherical in his Australian Open debut behind strong play and a seismic upset over Medvedev, a three-time finalist, within the second spherical.
Tien is now the youngest man to achieve the second week on the occasion since Rafael Nadal in 2005 and the second-youngest American man within the Open Era to take action, behind solely Pete Sampras.
“I do not suppose I can begin evaluating myself to [Nadal] now, however that is actually cool,” Tien, who was the runner-up on the Next Gen ATP Finals in December, mentioned when informed of what he had achieved.
During his win over Medvedev, Tien wanted 5 units — and almost 5 hours — in a match that ended simply earlier than 3 a.m. He had his preliminary match level within the third set, however Medvedev clawed his approach again. It was in the end determined, virtually two hours after that first match level try, in a 10-point deciding-set tiebreak, and Tien confirmed his steely resolve for a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (7) last rating.
“It was positively tougher than possibly it may have been, however, no matter,” Tien later informed the gang.
But on Saturday, taking the courtroom simply hours after coaching associate Michelsen secured his ticket to the second week, Tien was way more environment friendly. He defeated Moutet in straight units, 7-6 (10), 6-3, 6-3. He could not cover his pleasure about what he had achieved after the match.
“This [has] exceeded my expectations, what I hoped for coming into this week,” Tien mentioned. “You go into each match believing you may win, however to be within the second week is superb.”
He will subsequent play Sonego, who can be searching for his maiden Slam quarterfinal bid, for the primary time. However, it doesn’t matter what occurs in Monday’s match, Tien will likely be one of many match’s huge winners. He arrived in Melbourne ranked No. 121 and needs to be within the prime 80 within the subsequent rankings — a brand new profession excessive. He can have virtually doubled his profession earnings by reaching the fourth spherical.
Who he has crushed to date: Brandon Nakashima, Pablo Carreno Busta, No. 16 Lorenzo Musetti
Up subsequent: Gael Monfils
The 22-year-old Shelton has gone considerably beneath the radar throughout his newest run in Melbourne as his (barely) youthful cohorts obtain a lot of the limelight. He even joked about being “previous information” in the beginning of his information convention on Saturday. However, which may not be the case for for much longer, and he is not all that far faraway from his personal star flip on the match.
Two years in the past, and taking part in exterior of the United States for the primary time, Shelton was the shock quarterfinalist on the Australian Open and went on to advance to the semifinals on the US Open later within the yr. Since then, he has turn into one of many nation’s best-known gamers and has received two ATP titles. During the primary week in Melbourne, he has dropped simply two units and has largely been in management throughout all three of his matches. During Saturday’s conflict with Musetti, who had crushed him in each of their earlier conferences, Shelton staved off a decider by gutting out the victory in a fourth-set tiebreak for a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) win.
“He’s positively probably the most proficient guys on tour,” Shelton, the No. 21 seed, mentioned after the match. “One of the highest three shot-makers on tour. He does some issues you may’t imagine when he is on the courtroom. … We say on tour if somebody beats you thrice in a row, they’re your daddy, so I used to be combating to not let that occur.”
It marked Shelton’s third victory over a top-20 participant at a Slam. He is now one match away from replicating his earlier greatest lead to Melbourne and from reaching the third main quarterfinal of his profession. But it will not be straightforward in opposition to the resurgent Monfils, a 38-year-old fan favourite who got here again to defeat the closely favored Fritz on Saturday. Shelton and Monfils have by no means performed, nevertheless it has the potential to be an electrifying traditional between two of the tour’s greatest showmen. Shelton talked about watching Monfils’ profession highlights on YouTube and mentioned he had the “best mixtape” in all of tennis.
Shelton is the one seeded participant remaining in his quarter of the draw, however he mentioned that was irrelevant to him.
“I all the time really feel like I’ve an opportunity,” he informed reporters. “I all the time again myself, I all the time play the massive guys, I really feel like I’ve stuff that may make them uncomfortable. I by no means stroll on the courtroom not pondering I’ve an opportunity to win. It’s simply the best way that I’m wired and doubtless why I’ve had some success and moments that I in all probability should not have had, or earlier than I used to be actually prepared for it. I do not actually care who’s on the opposite aspect of the courtroom.”
