Australian Open 2025: Boulter and De Minaur through, but Rublev crashes out – live | Australian Open 2025

Fitfy-one winners, not bad.

While we were finishing off there, Kudermertova finished off Gadecki, a 6-1 6-1 win earning her a second-round match with Katie Boulter.

Fonseca doesn’t look all that moved, and why should he? This what he’s meant to be doing, it belongs to him, and he knows it. “Not bad” is his summation of events that have me scanning my internal thesaurus. “I just enjoyed every moment, my first time playing in a huuuuge stadium.”

He thanks the crowd, the Brasilians especially, then explains that he was just focused on his game trying to put no pressure on himself. He was trying to call the crowd to help him, but just enjoyed playing. “I was just playing my game and now I’m in the second round.”

He’s actually beaten Sonego, his next opponent, before, and asked about the tiebreaks, says he tried to put all his intensity into them. “I go for my shots,” he says; “I am courage.”

He’s not wrong, explaining that as Roger says, talent is no use without hard work, and he’s putting it in.

He knows.

Let’s hear from the man boy of the moment!

Joao Fonseca beats Andrey Rublev 7-6(1) 6-3 7-6(5)

Oh my days! A wondrous backhand, inside-out and down the line, gives Fonseca 6-5 and raises his first match point, though on the Rublev serve…

A forehand winner from Rublev ups the pressure but Fonseca takes control of the next point with evil forehands … only to slightly overhit when seeking the sideline. We’re back on serve at 5-5.

Not for long! A fine return, Rublev nets, and Fonseca is again two held points away…

Rublev snatches back a break, but at 4-2, Fonseca – on his Grand Slam debut – is three points away from round two. But as I type he’s caught at the net, beaten by a lob, and 4-0 is now 4-3, both mini-breaks gone.

Again, Fonseca seizes the immediate mini-break, a deft volley making 1-0. This is astonishing behaviour, it really is – the power and the touch, of course, but also the total comfort on court and in self which is moving to behold. He quickly holds for 3-0 then, when Rublev nets a forehand, the number nine seed introduces racket to GreenSet. We’re watching something exceedingly special, mates.

Which leaves out with Rublev v Fonseca, the latter holding to force a second tiebreak of the match at 6-6 in the third. If he wins it, he’s through; he took the earlier one to one.

Oh, and Denis Shapovalov beat Roberto Bautista Agut in four; next for him it’s Musetti, and that’s another potential banger.

Camila Osorio has beaten Maria Sakkari, seeded 31, 6-4 in the third. She meets Oor Ons next, and that should be a terrific tussle.

Boulter says she’d have preferred an easier match and thanks the crowd for keeping her going. She’s been playing great in practice but couldn’t reproduce that form and notes that, as did Thom Yorke before her, you can force it but it will not come.

She assumed Demon, her fiance had won, as she heard a massive roar then saw him in the crowd, and with that, off she goes.

Kaite Boulter (22) beats Rebecca Marino 6-4 3-6 7-5

Boulter coaxes a lovely forehand down the line, raising a second break point…

“I think Zverev will win one slam in the Ivanisevic way,” returns Victor K, “as in when he’s way over the hill and nobody is expecting him to. having been so close in his prime. He will always regret the US Open final that Thiem stole from him. That was his best chance. As for Rublev I can’t escape the feeling that in finding his inner peace he actually blunted the inner fire and competitive instinct that made him the player that regularly wins at least 50 matches every season. You need that fire when you’re facing a young up-and-comer swinging freely. He doesn’t have that today.”

I think Zverev will get there before that. His serve and backhand are two of the best shots in the game and his volleys and forehand are much improved.

I’m not sure I agree on Rublev. Therapy doesn’t work like that, it takes a long time to assimilate lasting changes, and I’m sure it doesn’t kill competitive fire. But excuse me while I interrupt myself, Boulter has match point at 6-5 in the third … only for Marino to nail a serve on to the line, the return sailing long.

Moutet goes to celebrate with the French in the crowd, hugging them and enjoying the moment; Fonseca again encourages the crowd to get involved, saving break points to make 4-4 in set three. Rublev is making more of an impression now, but if this set goes to a breaker, I know where my reals are going.

Corentin Moutet beats Alexei Popyrin (25) 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4

An amazing point, won by Moutet via lob, gives him 30-all, and when Popyrin strays wide, he has match point … but then overhits himself, so to deuce we go. Boulter, meanwhile, is up 5-4 in the third, while Moutet has advantage, goes for another lob … and this time lands it well long.

On Laver, Kudermoetova leads Gadecki 6-0, while on Cain, Moutet has broken Popyrin and will shortly serve for the match at 2-1 5-4.

Ach, bang in the point, Fonseca opens the angle for an inside-out forehand winner, only to stray wide, and that’s deuce, three break-points squandered. But what on earth?! On the chase and on the stretch, he creams a return cross-court for a clean winner, then slices to stick in the point before taking it over with his forehand and we’re back on serve in set three, Fonseca leading 7-6 6-3 2-3.

Now then. Rublev makes deuce, a double hands him advantage, and a deep backhand takes control of the next rally, and when Fonseca nets he leads 3-1 in the third. Except in the time it takes me to relay that information, Fonseca rushes to 0-40!

Terrific volley from Boulter, right on top of the tape to kill break point by killing a ball belted straight at her, then closes out for 3-2 in the third … but have a look! Also down break point – Rublev is starting to make an impression – Fonseca annihilates a backhand cross-court for a sensational winner before nosing up the crowd in a way Sinner never would. His opponent makes his what can you do face, and he’s right, a 12th ace soon raising advantage. This composure is remarkable.

In comms, they’re comparing Fonseca to Sinner and in terms of the cleanliness of his hitting, I can see why. But though he’s got the same comparable composure, he’s a bit more animated and creative – as you might expect given the stereotypical character of Italians from close to the Austria border relative to Cariocas. Once again, he’s giving Rublev all he can handle on serve – they’re at deuce – while Popyrin managed to stick in there to lead 3-2 in the fourth, Moutet by two sets to one,

Rublev holds on to his serve in game one of set three, just; the sense remains he’s on borrowed time. But Popyrin has broken Moutet back for 2-2 in set four … though he now trails 0-30.

Back on Laver, Kudermetova and Gadecki are under way; Gadecki is Aussie, hence the show-court presence. Oh and after 11 minutes, Boulter hangs on to her serve for 1-0 in the decider against Marino.

Moutet has broken Popyrin to lead 2-1 2-1, and there are no signs of an Aussie comeback. His power-game isn’t as effective against so cunning a hitter, and with his back limiting his ability to impose, defeat feels imminent.

Brilliant! Fonseca makes 40-0, curls an ace on to the T, and I don’t k ow what else to tell you: this boy is a superstar. He leads Rublev 7-6 6-3 and there seems to be nothing the ninth-best player in the world can do about it.

Rublev holds, forcing Fonseca to serve for the second set at 6-4 5-3. The no 9 seed is struggling to find any weaknesses in the youngster’s game so, as we mentioned earlier, if feels like the only thing that can stop him is fatigue.

Sakkari, another seeded woman i’d be amazed to see win a Slam, has levelled her match with Osorio at a set apiece; they’re 1-1 in the third.

Marino is playing really well now and she forces a decider with Boulter after taking the second set 6-3. If she maintains this level, the British no 1 has a problem.

“My pals and I were discussing whether any of the top 10 seeds across the men’s and women’s draw yet to win a slam would ever break their duck,” writes Darrien Bold.

Men: Zverev, Fritz, Ruud, De Minaur, Rublev, Dimitrov.

Women: Paolini, Zheng, Pegula, Navarro, Kasatkina.

I would say slim pickings. Can’t see any of the men winning a slam (would not enjoy Zverev lifting one), and across the women’s seeds perhaps only Paolini and Zheng have all that it takes (although I would love to see Collins lift one). Thoughts everyone?”

I’m pretty sure Zverev will get there are some point, maybe here – he can scarcely have come closer – but agree that none of the others are likely, though in women’s tennis anything can happen. If i had to pick one, I’d probably go Navarro.

Oh Andrey! Oh mate! He opens the angle for an inside-out forehand, but having had so few opportunities he snatches at this one and overhits. From there, Fonseca closes out, but perhaps this is the start of Rublev’s return.

Boulter is indeed playing, up 6-4 but down 5-2; Moutet served out at the second time of asking, leading Popyrin 2-1; and Fonseca leads Rublev 7-6 3-1, but is now break-point down…

Asked how he could’ve been so calm at the start, De Minaur says he gets it from working behind the scenes and knowing he’s done all he can. Once on court, he knows every single member of the crowd has his back, and he just needs to do his best.

Otherwise, he says his body feels great, better than it has in a long time, and he’s happy to slide about the court and burn his shoes, which is a good sign.

Finally, he’s asked about his engagement, saying 2024 was a special year and ended in the best possible way, but she’s playing now so he’d better get over there to watch.

Alex de Minaur (8) beats Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1 7-5 6-4

Popyrin appears to be enjoying a second wind, a corner-to-corner backhand return earning him one break back. Not too long ago, he looked like he might retire, but if he can hold, he;ll force Moutet to serve for the third set a second tim .

Back on Cain, Moutet is serving for set three against Popyrin, up 5-2 but down 15-40; De Minaur has broken Van de Zandschulp and is now serving for the match at 5-4 in the third; and Marino remains a break up on Boulter at 4-6 4-1.

Joao Fonseca is for real! He breaks Rublev, consolidates, and now leads 7-6 3-0. By the looks of things, all that can stop him is fatigue, because nothing suggests he’s going to get nervous and he’s got his opponent’s measure.

As in the first set, Marino breaks Boulter immediately, but this time she consolidates and leads 3-0 in the second having lost the first. Boulter, I guess, has similar issues to her fiance: both are underpowered, lacking a weapon to trouble the elite of the elite. So she’ll keep getting through the first rounds of Slams because she’s good, but worse players than her have better chances of performing above their rankings because they have the power to discomfort anyone.

You know how sometimes, the superstars announce themselves in superstar fashion? Think Federer beating Sampras, or Kyrgios sorting Nadal. Well, Fonseca has taken the first-set breaker against Rublev 7-1, and he is good to go.

A booming forehand hauls Fonseca back into a rally, then an inside-out backhand means he leads 4-0, furnished with two mini-breaks. Rublev responds with an ace, but seconds later it’s 5-1 to the young Brazilian, and he’s properly loving it out there.

Fonseca takes an immediate mini-break for 2-0, while Boulter eventually closes out for a 6-4 first set. De Minaur, meanwhile, leads Van de Zandschulp 6-1 7-5 2-3.

Fonseca slaps an ace down the middle, meaning he and Rublev will now play a first-set breaker. He is the absolute biz.

Etcheverry now leads Cobolli 2-1 as Shapovalov does against Bautista Agut; Marino forces Boulter through deuce as she attempts to secure set one, and Moutet has broken Popyrin a second time in set three to lead 3-0. I fear, though, the Aussie may soon retire because he’s had treatment on his back already and still looks exceedingly unchuffed.

Trailing De Minaur 1-6 5-7 1-1, and sent to the forehand corner, Van de Zandschulp plays a tweener cross-court … for a clean winner! That is insane behaviour! Otherwise, Boulter is serving for the set against Marino at 5-4in the first, Moutet has broken Popyrin for 1-0 in the third, while Rublev and Fonseca are locked at 5-5 in the first.

Email! “The issue with Andry Rublev (actually spelt Andrei Rooblyov, namesake of the Russian 16th century Michaelangelo, Andrey Rooblyov, a big deal when painting the insides of Russian churches)”, begins Victor K, “is indeed lack of slice and volleys. Like pretty much every successful Russian male player over the past 40 years, even the better ones – say Safin or Kafel’nikov – had the same basic game of the Russian school: good serve, forehand, two-handed backhand and little else. They are put out on a conveyor belt of identikit models: very attacking baseliners who might luck upon the odd hardcourt slam (Kafel’nikov even snagged one French open, where, before Nadal, it was a bit of a free-for-all).

Sharapova, raised in Florida, had the same problem. She had to swing-volley coz she couldn’t do actual volleys. She never sliced at all, and had Plan A – hit hard and flat, and Plan B – hit harder and flatter. It’s why somebody as creative and imaginative with her slicing and dicing as Justice Henin mostly had her for breakfast in their contests.

And this is what makes Medvedev so unusual for a Russian player: he is a quirky personality with a very quirky game. He can serve bombs but mostly is a defensive player who loves slicing and dicing with the best of em. And really should have beaten Rafa in at least two Slam finals.

Rublev is a pro’s pro but will never get beyond the quarters of a slam, even with his newfound serenity and inner peace. It’s not that he doesn’t have the weapons, it’s that he is a bit of an automaton of a player and you need creativity and imagination, through net-play and slicing and dicing, to reset the point and neutralise your opponent painting lines, to get any further. Andrey Rooblyov himself means ‘Andrew Rouble-ton/son. Rubit’: the verb his surname is derived from means to slice/chop (like chop wood) – nominative determinism is having a field day, given how big his forehand is (perhaps he chopped wood in his grandpa’s dacha growing up?).”

I think that’s a little harsh on Safin who, were he fully dedicated, would’ve won way more than he did. I’m also not sure the current champ and world no 1, Jannik Sinner, is renowned for his creativity. You can go a long way with ludicrous power and calm demeanour.

Back on Cain, Moutet has played a terrific set, breaking Popyrin and serving out to level the match at 1-1. His first and second serve percentages for it are 92 and 89 respectively, relative to his opponent’s 64 and 36, with the unforced error column – six versus 19 – also telling.

Ons Jabeur beats Anhelina Kalinina 6-3 6-3

It’s been bothering me for a while, but I knew I’d seen Joao Fonseca before.

I just didn’t think it was playing the lead role in Licorice Pizza.

Fonseca trails Rublev 3-4 in the first, on serve.

It’s turned around on 1573 and in a match be watching had I a fifth screen – pray for me – Jabeur has broken back then broken to lead Kalinina 6-4 4-3. I really hope she finds a Slam at some point, and it must be painful for her to essay those who’ve managed it with far, far less talent than her. At 30, time is not on her side and nor, more importantly, is Aryna Sabalenka. But if she can put it all together she’s still good enough to beat anyone.

De Minaur breaks Van de Zandschulp to 6-1 6-5 and raises two set-points; the first is saved, but an ace down the T seizes the second, and he leads 2-0. Ultimately, both players probably know that whatever it takes to win, he’ll do, and there’s not much his opponent can do about it.

Meantime Boulter, his fiance, has been broken and broken back to level her first set with marino as 2-2, Rublev and Fonseca are at 2-2 in the first, and Popryin, up 6-4 3-4 on Moutet, again has a physio prod him. So early in what could be a very long match, that is not a good sign.

The problem Rublev has is that he’s a fantastic player, but his volley and slice make it almost impossible for him to beat the players who are better than him – and there aren’t many – over five sets at a Slam. He is, though, the only active player with wins over Federer, Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, Sinner and Alcaraz. I guess that ultimately, like many of us, he needs to assimilate that work is something he does, not who he is.

Talking of Rublev, here’s another Big Don interview that’s well worth your time. Having been blogging on various occasions he’s melted down and attacked himself, I’m delighted he’s got the help he needs, all the more so as I’m assured he’s an excellent lad.

At 6-2 2-3, Popyrin has the trainer out and takes a medical timeout to have his back worked on; that is not a good sign and he’s wincing, lying flat on his front. Demon, meanwhile, battles through his hold for 5-5, two set-points saved, and Rublev is about to serve in game one against Fonseca.

On Kia, Marino and Boulter are playing their first game, while Jabeur leads Kalinina 6-3 0-2; Osorio and Sakkari are 3-3 in the first; Etcheberry and Cobolli are 1-1 3-4; Bautista Agut and Shapovalov are 1-1 1-1; and De Minaur has just saved set point at 6-1 4-5 against Van de Zandschulp.

I’m going to level with you, so please don’t cancel me, but I don’t get scotch eggs: they’re dry and bland.

Joao Fonseca, then. He’s considered an absolutely elite-level prospect and last year became the first 2006-born player to win a match on the ATP tour. He’s got a colossal game and actually did some work at the National Training Centre in Roehampton having come to train with Jack Draper who then got injured.

Says Coach Calv: “He’s one of those who’s definitely going top 10, maybe top five, maybe top one” before relaying an anecdote that, when Fonseca was in England, he was staying in Putney, so our man asked if he’d been to the Brazilian restaurant there. “No,” came back the reply, “but do you know where i can get any scotch eggs? I had one at Wimbledon and I love them1”