Third round singles action concludes on Saturday in Melbourne.
Saturday’s schedule is overflowing with fascinating third round contests. Iga Swiatek takes on 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu. Recent US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz goes up against a resurgent Gael Monfils. Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti faces Ben Shelton. And in a battle of American Major finalists, Danielle Collins plays long-time friend Madison Keys.
Plus, Jannik Sinner, Elena Rybakina, and Jasmine Paolini will also be in action.
Throughout the tournament, this preview will analyze the day’s four most prominent matches, while highlighting the other notable matches on the schedule. Saturday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Emma Raducanu vs. Iga Swiatek (2) – 11:30am on Rod Laver Arena
Both of these players won their first Major as a teenager, but their careers have gone in very different directions ever since. 23-year-old Swiatek is now a five-time Major champion, and spent the majority of the last three years as the World No.1. 22-year-old Raducanu has battled multiple serious injuries, and hasn’t been in the top 50 since losing her 2021 US Open ranking points.
Iga lost the No.1 ranking at the end of 2024 to Aryna Sabalenka, as she now looks to achieve more success at Majors not played in Paris. This fall, she hired Wim Fisette as her coach, who has coached many top WTA players, most recently working with Naomi Osaka.
This is the farthest Emma has ever advanced in Melbourne, thanks to two strong wins thus far, over Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova. But considering Swiatek is 3-0 against Raducanu, and has won all three matches in straights, Iga is a significant favorite to start the day on Saturday.
Taylor Fritz (4) vs. Gael Monfils – Not Before 1:00pm on Margaret Court Arena
Fritz has just destroyed the competition thus far, dropping only eight games through six sets. He sits at a new career-high ranking of No.4, after reaching his first Major final, and also advancing to the championship match at the ATP Finals, losing both of those finals to Jannik Sinner. Taylor’s quarterfinal run here a year ago is his best Australian Open result to date.
Monfils is also a two-time quarterfinalist here, most recently in 2022. But this now matches his best result at a Major since that time. Gael outlasted young French phenom Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Monday in five, then defeated Daniel Altmaier on Wednesday in three.
Their only prior encounter also took place at this tournament, when six years ago in the second round, Fritz overcame Monfils after four tight sets, three of which went to tiebreaks. And given Taylor’s recent form, and his imposing serve, I like the American to prevail again in this third round affair.
Ben Shelton (21) vs. Lorenzo Musetti (16) – Not Before 5:00pm on John Cain Arena
Musetti had quite a notable summer, achieving his first Major semifinal at Wimbledon, and winning an Olympic bronze medal just a few weeks later at the Paris Olympics. However, he was just 1-3 at the Australian Open prior to this fortnight, by far his worst record at any Slam. Yet Lorenzo has claimed two nice wins already this week, over fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi, as well as over Denis Shapovalov.
Shelton was a surprise quarterfinalist here two years ago, in just his second Major appearance, and the American’s first time traveling outside of the United States. He would become a Major semifinalist later that same year at his home Slam. But Ben stalled in the third or fourth round of every Major last season, though none of those losses were embarrassing, as they all came against players ranked No.21 or higher.
Musetti leads their head-to-head 2-0, having defeated Shelton two years ago on grass, as well as last year on a hard court. And while the fast-playing courts in Melbourne will hasten Ben’s powerful strokes, Tennis Abstract reveals he hasn’t beaten a top 20 player at an outdoor event in over 15 months. I expect Lorenzo to successfully utilize his variety and formidable backhand to make Ben uncomfortable, and I give the Italian to slight edge to advance.
Madison Keys (19) vs. Danielle Collins (10) – Last on Rod Laver Arena
It would be an enormous understatement to say Danielle Collins didn’t exactly endear herself to the Aussie crowd on Thursday night. In her match against Australia’s Destanee Aiava, Collins took exception to fans cheering when she missed her serve. She displayed her dissatisfaction in multiple ways during the match, but that was nothing compared to how she displayed it after the match. Danielle proceeded to thank the Australian fans for the paycheck, explaining how her haters just helped fund her next five-star vacation. I look forward to hearing how the late-night Rod Laver Arena audience welcomes her on Saturday evening.
Collins arrived in Melbourne with no momentum, as she was on a six-match losing streak, dating back to the Paris Olympics. By contrast, Keys has gotten off to a great start to her season in Australia, as she often does. Madison was the champion two weeks ago in Adelaide, where she notched wins over five top 30 players.
Keys leads Collins 2-1, and claimed their two most recent meetings, including a 6-1, 6-2 victory last season in the final of Strasbourg on clay. And based on recent form, Madison is a big favorite to win again on Saturday.
Other Notable Matches on Saturday:
Emma Navarro (8) vs. Ons Jabeur – Navarro has already survived a pair of extended battles, against both Peyton Stearns and Xiyu Wang. Jabeur won her first two matches in straights, but suffered from breathing issues related to an asthma flare-up in the last round, leaving a frightened Ons in tears.
Francisco Cerundolo (31) vs. Alex de Minaur (8) – Both players have advanced extremely comfortably to what should be a great third round contest, featuring plenty of long, grueling rallies. This is their first career meeting.
Elena Rybakina (6) vs. Dayana Yastremska (32) – Rybakina has lost only five games through four sets. Yastremska was a semifinalist here a year ago, but has struggled to win back-to-back matches ever since, though she did easily advance to this stage.
Jannik Sinner (1) vs. Marcos Giron – Sinner came from a set down on Thursday night against Australian wild card Tristan Schoolkate. Giron won a five-setter in the last round over Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Two seasons ago in Shanghai, Jannik beat Marcos in straights.
Elina Svitolina (28) vs. Jasmine Paolini (4) – Paolini has been clinical through two rounds, as she looks to advance to the second week for the fifth consecutive Major. Svitolina also hasn’t dropped a set, in her first tournament since the US Open, as she underwent foot surgery in September.
Saturday’s full Order of Play is here.
