Australian Open Day 3: Andrey Rublev upset by Brazilian teenager; Americans Taylor Fritz, Emma Navarro, Ben Shelton advance

On By Littum

Andrey Rublev of Russia reacts during his first round match against Joao Fonseca of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Andrey Rublev, seeded ninth, lost to 18-year-old qualifier Joao Fonesca in the first round of the Australian Open. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Round 1 of the 2025 Australian Open is officially in the books. The final day of early play featured an unexpected early exit as well as unexpected success for two teenagers looking to make their mark on the first Grand Slam of the year.

In a game with few upsets, Tuesday was perhaps the most surprising. Russian Andrey Rublevseeded as no. ninth, was upset by the qualification João Fonsecaan 18-year-old from Brazil. He stormed into his Grand Slam main draw debut, beating Rublev 7-6(1), 6-3, 7-6(5) in two hours and 23 minutes. Fonseca entered Round 1 on a 14-fight winning streak and won over the crowd with his effortless power and unwavering confidence. He is just the second teenager since 1973 to beat a top-10 player in his first Grand Slam match.

“I just enjoyed every moment on this amazing pitch, it’s my first time playing in a big stadium,” said Fonesca after the match. “I want to thank this amazing crowd. There are some Brazilians here… a lot of Brazilians here cheering me on!

“I wasn’t trying to put pressure on myself when I was playing with a top-10 guy in a big stadium. (I) was trying to call on the crowd to help me. I was just enjoying playing my game.

“That’s one thing about myself, is that I play better at the important points, I go for my shots. That was the difference today.”

The fifth seed Daniel Medvedev had to stare down his own possible early exit against Kasidit Samrej of Thailand. Medvedev won the first set, but Samrej won the next two. Unable to make any more mistakes, Medvedev rose to the challenge in the final two sets, easily finishing off Samrej, winning 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. He will face unseeded American Learner Tien in the second round.

It was a good day for Americans in the top 32, although oddly enough they all had to defeat other Americans to advance to the second round. Taylor Fritzno. 4 seed, defeated his unseeded compatriot Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3. Emma Navarroseeded eighth in women’s singles, had a little more trouble against fellow American Peyton Stearns. Navarro needed three hours and 20 minutes to defeat Stearns, but she managed to do it, winning 6(5)-7, 7-6(5), 7-5.

no. 19 Madison Keys also faced an American, Ann Li, claiming a 6-4, 7-5 victory. And Ben Sheltonseeded 21st, took down Brandon Nakashima in a tough three-setter, winning 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-5. American wildcard Iva Jovicplaying in her second Grand Slam aged just 17, defeated Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain to advance to the second round.

Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakinaseeded fourth and sixth respectively, both cruised through their Round 1 matches. Paolini defeated Chinese qualifier Sijia Wei 6-0, 6-4, while 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina took care of 17-year-old Emerson Jones 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes. Rybakina will face another 17-year-old in Round 2, taking on Jovic.

Wed Jabeurunseeded in Melbourne, looking to get back on track after a punishing 2024. Once no. 2 women’s singles player in the world, she is now ranked 39th after starting 2024 at no. 6. She met Anhelina Kalinina on Tuesday and showed up. with a straight-sets 6-3, 6-3 victory in just 72 minutes. If this is the beginning of her journey back to the top, it couldn’t have started better.