'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It was a mixed bag for seeds on Day 7 of the Australian Open as the likes of Jannik Sinner and Iga Swaitek sailed to victories, while Taylor Fritz and Danielle were bundled out of the tournament.
The American duo, however, were not only big names to be shown the door on a day that saw third-round action come to a close at the season's first Grand Slam.
Before we step into the second week of the 2025 Australian Open, let's take a quick look at five of the most shocking results that unfolded on Day 7 of the tournament.
#5 Alex Michelsen def. Karen Khachanov
This year's Australian Open is turning into a bit of breakthrough Slam for Next Gen stars. After the heroics from Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, Alex Michelsen has now claimed a big scalp by taking out Karen Khachanov in the third round.
Trending
And that's not even the American's first upset of the week. He had begun his campaign with a stellar four-set win over Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Against Khachanov, he did not even need four sets as he got things done in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2. While Khachanov outdid his younger opponent in overall serving stats, the youngster was clinical. A 100% break point conversion meant that he did not allow his opponent any breathing room. He will now continue his run against home hope Alex De Minaur.
#4 Madison Keys def. Danielle Collins
Madison Keys came into the 2025 Australian Open in great form, having lifted the title in Adelaide. She was made to work hard for her opening two wins in Melbourne but looked dialed in against Danielle Collins in the third round.
The gung-ho brand of tennis shone throughout the encounter but Keys was the more measured of the two Americans, firing 24 winners (double her opponent's 12) en-route to the 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Collins had some medical issues midway through the second set but one can take nothing away from the breathtaking ball-striking from the other end. Having taken out one former finalist in the form of Collins, Keys now faces another: Elena Rybakina.
#3 Veronika Kudermetova def. Beatriz Haddad Maia
For Veronika Kudermetova, the 2025 Australian Open began on a strange note as she found herself playing under the lights at Rod Laver Arena. Only that she was not playing a seed, instead an opponent ranked outside the top-100 in the form of Aussie No. 1 Olivia Gadecki.
The big stage experience seems to have prepped her well as she has taken out seeds in back-to-back contests after her 6-1, 6-1 win over Gadecki. She defeated Katie Boulter in a three-setter in the second round and was even more convincing against Beatriz Haddad Maia in the third.
Kudermetova was aggressive on return, generating as many as 11 break chances and taking five of them en-route to the strong 6-4, 6-2 finish. She faces another big name in the form of Elina Svitolina next.
#2 Elina Svitolina def. Jasmine Paolini
Jasmine Paolini showed her versatility by making back-to-back Grand Slam finals on different surfaces (the French Open clay and the Wimbledon grass) last year. On Saturday, she was up against a player who knows a thing or two about doing well across surfaces herself.
Elina Svitolina has made the quarterfinal or better at every single Slam and continues to be a threat on the big stage. While her ranking is yet to reach the pre-maternity leave highs of top five, she is always in the conversation at Slams.
The Ukrainian managed to overturn a strong start from Paolini, discovering her stride midway through the second set. She began firing winners at will and even thundered down seven aces to deny the fourth seed a second week spot. The fact that her husband Gael Monfils had scored a big win on same court just few hours earlier would have made the result even sweeter
#1 Gael Monfils def. Taylor Fritz
Speaking of Gael Monfils, what a start he has had to the 2025 season. From drawing praise from Novak Djokovic to making the Auckland final to now upsetting fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the Australian Open third round, the Frenchman has been on fire.
And make no mistakes, Fritz is one of toughest guys to play on a hardcourt. His run to the US Open final just a few months ago is testament to that. All of that, however, went out the widow as Monfils used all his guile and trickery to weave a web around the American, who was bamboozled into submission 6-3, 5-7, 6-7(1), 4-6.
Such was the Frenchman's form on the day that he even doubled the number of aces against his big-serving opponent 24 to 12. All was well and he even managed to recover in time to return to Margaret Court Arena to cheer for his wife later in the evening. He will look to continue his march against another American, Ben Shelton, in the next round.
