The opening rounds of the Australian Open 2025 at Melbourne Park have sparked thrilling matches, with several players delivering surprising upsets and noteworthy performances. Whilst fans flocked to witness the action, some rising stars made headlines with their achievements.
On day two of the tournament, British No.1 Jack Draper showcased remarkable grit against Argentina's Mariano Navone, pulling off a stellar five-set comeback victory after grappling with early setbacks. Draper, playing for the first time this year due to hip injury troubles, initially found himself trailing two sets to one before launching back with resilience, winning the match 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. "It ended up being quite testing, especially since it was my first match of the year. I felt the pressure but managed to keep my head clear," Draper shared after the grueling four hours of competition.
Jannik Sinner, the top seed and reigning champion, continued his impressive defense of the title, defeating Chilean Nicolas Jarry with ease, advancing comfortably to the next round. Similarly, world No. 3 Coco Gauff secured her place, easily defeating former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-3, showing the form she displayed before this Grand Slam.
Amongst the upsets, the most shocking was Nick Kyrgios's early tournament exit against Jacob Fearnley, who decisively won 7-6(3), 6-3, 7-6(2) on his main draw debut. The match was marred by Kyrgios's visible struggles with fitness and focus, raising doubts about his future performance prospects. Following the match, he stated, “Just seeing the fans line up for hours... the support was incredible, making it tough to throw the towel.” Fearnley reflected on his victory, saying, "I knew it would be tough against Nick, but I managed to stay focused and make the most of my chances today. It was exhilarating to win my first match at such an iconic venue."
Jodie Burrage also made waves on day two; the British player shed tears of joy after clinching her first main-draw win at the Australian Open, defeating Leolia Jeanjean 6-2, 6-4. "I want to get to Australia, I know I’ll be good here... I just felt immensely happy at the end. It definitely ranks among the best wins of my career," Burrage expressed, highlighting how overcoming injuries during her previous season made this victory even more meaningful.
While the day showcased numerous outstanding performances, it also recorded significant attendance, with 59,621 fans attending the day session and 35,669 at night for record numbers at the Australian Open. This connection between players and fans only amplifies excitement as the tournament progresses. On the coaching front, Andy Murray made headlines as he was seen courtside coaching Novak Djokovic against Nishesh Basavareddy. The Serbian started the match nervously before recovering to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Strikingly, this marked Djokovic’s pursuit of his record 25th Grand Slam title alongside Murray, who has shifted from player to coach with great enthusiasm.
With the tournament still only halfway through its opening rounds, anticipation builds for upcoming matches as all eyes look toward potential clashes, including the next showdown awaiting Draper against Thanasi Kokkinakis. The stakes are high as players continue vying for wins to inch closer to the coveted title. With more matches scheduled, fans are eager to see who will step up to the challenge and possibly become the next Grand Slam champion.