Tag: upsets

  • Kansas State upsets No. 3 Cyclones


    Dug McDaniel scored 20 points to lead five Kansas State players in double figures as the Wildcats upset No. 3 Iowa State 80-61 on Saturday.With this win, the Wildcats (10-11, 4-6 Big 12) ended a 15-game road losing streak — 12 of which occurred within the Big 12. Kansas State has now won its last three overall games, also beating then-No. 23 West Virginia and Oklahoma State.Coleman Hawkins added 17 points and Brendan Hausen had 15 for the Wildcats.The Cyclones (17-4, 7-3) saw their 29-game home winning streak end.Tamin Lipsey tied a season-high with 20 points for the Cyclones with Curtis Jones adding 14 and Joshua Jefferson with 13.TakeawaysKansas State: The Wildcats took down their first top-five team on the road since 2017 when Kansas State beat then-No. 2 Baylor 56-54 at the Ferrell Center on Feb. 2.Iowa State: The Cyclones tied a season-high with 18 turnovers, as they’ve gone back-to-back games with this amount of turnovers. Both games were losses.Key momentThe Cyclones tried to claw their way back into the game with a 13-0 run late in the second half, but a 3-pointer from Hausen extinguished any hope left for Iowa State.Key statThe Wildcats tied a season-high of 22 fouls committed but still found a way to upset a top-three team on the road.Up nextIowa State hosts TCU next Saturday. Kansas State visits Arizona State Tuesday night.

    Dug McDaniel scored 20 points to lead five Kansas State players in double figures as the Wildcats upset No. 3 Iowa State 80-61 on Saturday.

    With this win, the Wildcats (10-11, 4-6 Big 12) ended a 15-game road losing streak — 12 of which occurred within the Big 12. Kansas State has now won its last three overall games, also beating then-No. 23 West Virginia and Oklahoma State.

    Coleman Hawkins added 17 points and Brendan Hausen had 15 for the Wildcats.

    The Cyclones (17-4, 7-3) saw their 29-game home winning streak end.

    Tamin Lipsey tied a season-high with 20 points for the Cyclones with Curtis Jones adding 14 and Joshua Jefferson with 13.

    Takeaways

    Kansas State: The Wildcats took down their first top-five team on the road since 2017 when Kansas State beat then-No. 2 Baylor 56-54 at the Ferrell Center on Feb. 2.

    Iowa State: The Cyclones tied a season-high with 18 turnovers, as they’ve gone back-to-back games with this amount of turnovers. Both games were losses.

    Key moment

    The Cyclones tried to claw their way back into the game with a 13-0 run late in the second half, but a 3-pointer from Hausen extinguished any hope left for Iowa State.

    Key stat

    The Wildcats tied a season-high of 22 fouls committed but still found a way to upset a top-three team on the road.

    Up next

    Iowa State hosts TCU next Saturday. Kansas State visits Arizona State Tuesday night.



    In a stunning upset, Kansas State defeats No. 3 Cyclones

    In a thrilling game that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Kansas State pulled off a major upset by defeating the No. 3 ranked Cyclones. The Wildcats came into the game as heavy underdogs, but they played with heart and determination to secure the victory.

    The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading blows throughout the contest. But in the end, it was Kansas State who made the big plays when it mattered most. Their defense stepped up and shut down the high-powered Cyclones offense, while their offense made key plays to put points on the board.

    The upset victory is sure to shake up the college football landscape and will be talked about for weeks to come. Kansas State proved that they are a team to be reckoned with and that they are capable of competing with the best in the nation.

    Congratulations to the Wildcats on their impressive win!

    Tags:

    Kansas State, upset, No. 3, Cyclones, college basketball, Big 12, underdog victory, NCAA, March Madness, upset alert, sports news, top teams, upset victory, Kansas State basketball, upset win, college sports, ranking upset, upset in college basketball

    #Kansas #State #upsets #Cyclones

  • Madison Keys upsets Iga Swiatek, into 1st Australian Open final


    When Madison Keys finally finished off her 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (8) upset of No. 2 Iga Swiatek in a high-intensity, high-quality Australian Open semifinal Thursday night, saving a match point along the way, the 29-year-old American crouched on the court and placed a hand on her white hat.

    She had a hard time believing it all. The comeback. What Keys called an “extra dramatic finish.” The victory over five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, who had been on the most dominant run at Melbourne Park in a dozen years. And now the chance to play in a Grand Slam final for a second time, eight years after being the US Open runner-up.

    “I’m still trying to catch up to everything that’s happening,” said the 19th-seeded Keys, who will face No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday for the trophy. “I felt like I was just fighting to stay in it. … It was so up and down and so many big points.”

    Just to be sure, Keys asked whether Swiatek was, indeed, one point from victory. She was, serving at 6-5, 40-30, before missing a backhand into the net, then getting broken by double-faulting to send the contest to a first-to-10, win-by-two tiebreaker.

    “I felt like I blacked out there at some point,” Keys said, “and was out there running around.”

    Whatever she was doing, it worked in the end. Keys claimed more games in the semifinal than the 14 total that Swiatek dropped in her five previous matches over the past two weeks.

    “It was a matter of one or two balls,” said Swiatek, who lost in the Australian Open semifinals three years ago too. “Madison was kind of brave.”

    Sabalenka beat good friend Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 earlier Thursday. Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, won the Australian Open the past two years and can become the first woman since 1999 to complete a three-peat.

    “If she plays like this,” the 11th-seeded Badosa said about Sabalenka, “I mean, we can already give her the trophy.”

    The last woman to reach three finals in a row at the year’s first Grand Slam tournament was Serena Williams, who won two from 2015 to 2017. Martina Hingis was the most recent woman with a three-peat, doing it from 1997 to 1999.

    Swiatek had not lost a service game since the first round but was broken three times by Keys in the first set alone and eight times in all.

    That included each of Swiatek’s first two times serving, making clear from the get-go this would not be her usual sort of day. While Swiatek did eke out the opening set, she was overwhelmed in the second, trailing 5-0 before getting a game.

    This was the big-hitting Keys at her best. She turns 30 next month, and at the suggestion of her coach Bjorn Fratangelo, who’s a former player as well as her husband, she decided to try a new racket this season, an effort both to help her with generating easy power but also to relieve some strain on her right shoulder.

    It’s certainly paid immediate dividends. Keys is on an 11-match winning streak, including taking the title at a tuneup event in Adelaide.

    She was good enough to get through this one, which was as tight as can be down the stretch.

    “At the end, I feel like we were both kind of battling some nerves. … It just became who can get that final point and who can be a little bit better than the other one,” Keys said. “And I’m happy it was me.”

    Keys said the personal work she had put in to develop a bolder approach to her game paid dividends on Thursday, noting that her semifinal loss to Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open taught her how to take her chances and not have regrets.

    “I’ve been doing a lot of personal work with all of that. One of the big things, after I lost to Aryna at the US Open, I felt like I tried to play safe and I wasn’t playing how I wanted to in the big moments. That felt so bad,” Keys told reporters. “I felt like if I can go out and do what I want to do and really just be uncomfortable at times and go for it and play the way I play my best tennis, and I lose, then I can walk away and say, ‘OK, I did my best, she beat me, that’s fine.’”

    Keys’ victory made her the first woman to come from a set down to win an Australian Open semifinal since Venus Williams in 2017; Williams defeated CoCo Vandeweghe before losing to her sister Serena in the final.

    The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.



    In a stunning upset, Madison Keys has defeated Iga Swiatek to advance to her first Australian Open final. Keys, the 10th seed, showed incredible determination and skill as she battled past the reigning French Open champion in a thrilling semifinal match.

    Keys, known for her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game, put on a masterclass performance against Swiatek, who was the heavy favorite coming into the match. Despite facing a tough opponent, Keys remained composed and focused throughout the match, showcasing her mental toughness and ability to rise to the occasion on the big stage.

    With this victory, Keys has now booked her spot in the final of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career. The 26-year-old American will now have the chance to compete for the coveted Australian Open title and etch her name in the history books.

    Congratulations to Madison Keys on her impressive win and best of luck in the final! #AusOpen #MadisonKeys

    Tags:

    1. Madison Keys
    2. Iga Swiatek
    3. Australian Open
    4. Tennis
    5. Upset
    6. Final
    7. Women’s singles
    8. Madison Keys vs Iga Swiatek
    9. Grand Slam
    10. Tennis news

    #Madison #Keys #upsets #Iga #Swiatek #1st #Australian #Open #final

  • Australian Open Day 9: Madison Keys upsets Elena Rybakina, Jannik Sinner overcomes illness into quarterfinals


    Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

    Madison Keys of the U.S. has won nine consecutive matches while advancing to the Australian Open quarterfinals following a win over Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

    No. 19 seed Madison Keys scored the big upset on Day 9 of the Australian Open, defeating No. 6 Elena Rybakina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 at Margaret Court Arena to advance to the tournament quarterfinals.

    Rybakina fought a back injury throughout the match and was still able to rally and win the second set. Yet she had no answer for Keys consistently returning her serve.

    Following her third-round win over Dayana Yastremska, Rybakina admitted to reporters that her back was a significant obstacle, saying “it doesn’t seem too good” and needed “magic” to advance in the tournament.

    Keys has won nine consecutive matches and bested Rybakina after losing her past two matchups against her.

    “I really had just had to focus on getting as many returns in play today. Her serve is such a weapon,” Keys said in her post-match interview. “I knew that if I could just try to make at least some of her service games competitive, I had a chance.”

    Keys will face Elina Svitolina in Wednesday’s quarterfinal match. Svitolina advanced by defeating Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.

    No. 1 men’s seed and defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner overcame an illness that caused several medical delays throughout his fourth-round match. Play was also delayed by a broken net in the fourth set.

    Sinner ultimately prevailed over No. 13 Holger Rune, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, but he visibly struggled during the match, seen shaking while sitting between sets.

    “Today was a very strange morning. I didn’t even warm up today, trying to go on court as fit as I could,” Sinner told Jim Courier after the match. “I knew in my mind right before the match that I would struggle today.”

    With the win, Sinner became the fourth player to reach the quarterfinals in 15 consecutive tour-level events, joining Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. At 23 years old, he’s the youngest men’s player to win 18 straight hard-court Grand Slam matches since John McEnroe did so in 1981.

    Sinner will face native Australian Alex De Minaur in the quarterfinals. The No. 8 seed advanced past the tournament’s fourth round for the first time with a win over Alex Michelsen, 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

    De Minaur is the first Australian men’s player to make the Australian Open quarters since Nick Kyrgios did so in 2015. Previously, he’s advanced to the quarterfinals at the US Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

    “It means the world,” De Minaur said, post-match. “There is nothing I want to do more than play well here in Australia in front of you guys, so I am glad I finally made it to a quarter-finals here. Let’s go for bigger and better things.”

    De Minaur and Sinner have faced each other nine previous times, with the Italian winning all of their matches.

    Also in the fourth round of the women’s draw, No. 8 seed Emma Navarro endured three sets to beat No. 9 Daria Kasatkina, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. The match was a back-and-forth affair with each player consistently breaking the other’s serve. Kasatkina appeared to be on the verge of tying the third set, but faltered with four consecutive errors.

    Navarro has not taken an easy route to the quarterfinals, needing three sets to win all three of her matches in this year’s Australian Open. She defeated Peyton Stearns in the opening round, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, then overcame Xiyu Wang in the second round, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. In the third round, Navarro fought through to beat Ons Jabeur, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

    No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek awaits Navarro in Wednesday’s quarterfinal match after easily dispatching Eva Lys in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1. Each of Swiatek’s matches in this year’s Australian Open have been straight-set victories.

    Perhaps as a warning to Navarro, Swiatek says she has room to improve.

    “I don’t feel like I’m in my peak yet but matches like that definitely give me confidence,” Swiatek said in her post-match interview. “I feel like I’m playing a good game.”

    Off the court, Swiatek learned that the World Anti-Doping Agency will not appeal her one-month suspension for testing positive for banned substance trimetazidine in August. WADA’s review of the case determined that Swiatek’s positive test was the result of contamination from melatonin she was taking.

    Swiatek served a one-month suspension that ended on Dec. 4.



    In an unexpected turn of events at the Australian Open, American Madison Keys pulled off a stunning upset against fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the fourth round. Keys, who has been in great form throughout the tournament, displayed her powerful groundstrokes and strong serving to defeat Rybakina in straight sets.

    Meanwhile, young Italian sensation Jannik Sinner overcame illness to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Sinner, who was struggling with a stomach bug, showed tremendous resilience and determination to fight through his physical discomfort and defeat his opponent in a grueling five-set match.

    Keys and Sinner will now move on to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where they will face tough competition as they continue their quest for the championship title. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting tournament!

    Tags:

    Australian Open, Day 9, Madison Keys, Elena Rybakina, Jannik Sinner, upset, quarterfinals, tennis, sports, Australian Open 2022

    #Australian #Open #Day #Madison #Keys #upsets #Elena #Rybakina #Jannik #Sinner #overcomes #illness #quarterfinals

  • Australian Open quarter-finals: Zverev v Paul, Badosa upsets Gauff; Djokovic v Alcaraz later – live | Australian Open 2025


    Key events

    Paul* v Zverev 2-2: Paul fires in the first of what will likely be many aces in this match-up with a 214 km/h rocket for 30-15. The American is opening up the court off his forehand as he nails a winner then sets the next point on the same side and finishes it off overhead closer to the net.

    Paul v Zverev* 1-2: Zverev holds easier this time off the back of errors from Paul even as the American is able to return effectively and work his way into a series of rallies.

    Paul* v Zverev 1-1: Paul double faults early for 15-15 but punishes Zverev’s returns to hold comfortably.

    Tommy Paul serves against Alexander Zverev during their men’s singles quarter-final at the Australian Open. Photograph: Martin Keep/AFP/Getty Images

    Paul v Zverev* 0-1: A fast start for Zverev as a trio of errors from Paul take the German to 40-0. Paul tidies up his returns to climb back for deuce but Zverev’s second serve is too hot to handle as he twice attacks off a fault.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Tommy Paul started slowly at Melbourne Park with a five-setter in the opening round against Australia’s Chris O’Connell, then dropping a set against Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the following round. But the No 12 seed has found form with a pair of straight sets victories since then including a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 thumping of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16.

    The players are in place on RLA with No 2 seed Alexander Zverev to serve first.

    Alexander Zverev and Tommy Paul are on RLA warming up under the scorching sun after the German has been open about preferring to play at night and away from the heat.

    The first men’s singles quarter-final is up next on Rod Laver Arena with Alexander Zverev (2) taking on Tommy Paul (12). The duo have faced off twice before, with Zverev taking out both clashes away from the spotlight of the grand slams. But those hard-court matches were back in 2020 and 2022 and both players have been on the rise since the first of those meetings in particular. Zverev will be out to match his semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park last year as well as in 2020, while Paul reached the last four here two years ago.

    It turned into a day of firsts for Paula Badosa as the Spaniard dismantled No 3 seed Coco Gauff in their quarter-final. Badosa targeted the American’s forehand throughout and looked to get on the front foot at any opportunity, whether approaching the net or just attacking Gauff’s second serve – winning 76% of points on the latter.

    Gauff was at her best when she moved towards the net but paid the price for having 25-10 unforced errors and failing to pressure Badosa’s serve often enough. Badosa had never won a set off a top-10 player at a grand slam before today, now she has won two to claim a spot in the semi-finals.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Paula Badosa (11) beats Coco Gauff (3) 7-5, 6-4

    Paula Badosa is into her first grand slam semi-final after overpowering the No 3 seed Coco Gauff in straight sets. The Spaniard learns from her previous service game when she was a bit tame while serving for the match, this time firing in a pair of aces and finishing off Gauff with a winner from the return on match point.

    The No 11 seed has overcome a chronic back injury to set up a semi-final against either Aryna Sabalenka (1) or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27).

    Paula Badosa celebrates claiming a semi-final spot at the 2025 Australian Open. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

    Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 4-5: Gauff holds to 30 but once again will have to break Badosa to stay alive in this quarter-final. The 20-year-old has started playing with a newfound freedom since Badosa’s double break pushed Gauff onto the ropes as she finally finds her range off the forehand.

    Coco Gauff hangs on in the quarter-final against Paula Badosa at the 2025 Australian Open. Photograph: Fred Lee/Getty Images
    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 3-5: Gauff breaks back to stay alive in this quarter-final. The American steps up with her Australian Open hopes on the line even as Badosa sends her running from side to side on the baseline. The American bravely puts aside the troubles with her forehand today as she pulls out a pair of winners then seals the break off the same side when forcing Badosa to hit high and wide. Now the No 3 seed needs to hold her serve.

    Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 2-5: Double break for Badosa and the Spaniard will serve for a spot in her first grand slam semi-final. Gauff misses with a simple backhand for 0-15 but Badosa is unable to make the American pay a heavier price as she mis-times an overhead into an open court. The sun seems to be causing both players concerns at that one end of the court. Gauff pulls out a sensational forehand winner but then misses with much the same shot to hand Badosa a break point. A double fault has Gauff hanging on with Badosa to serve for the match.

    Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 2-4: Badosa holds to 15 as the unforced errors continue to mount up for Gauff. The American has hit 21 to Badosa’s seven and is running out of time to turn this around.

    Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 2-3: Badosa breaks again! Gauff has lifted her intensity and pummels a backhand from out wide cross-court for 40-15. But a double fault and a backhand dragged into the net brings Badosa back to deuce. The Spaniard attacks the net from there and breaks off a pair of forehand volleys.

    Coco Gauff struggles with her serve against Paula Badosa at the 2025 Australian Open. Photograph: Robert Prange/Getty Images

    Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 2-2: Gauff breaks for the first time in the match! Badosa continues to test Gauff’s forehand and starts with a chip that the American fails to return. A mishit Gauff return lands in the corner for 15-15 as she sends a wave of apology, then very much times a backhand to take set up her first two break points of the day. A long forehand from Badosa ties the second set.

    Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 1-2: Gauff holds for the first time in three service games but Badosa remains threatening off her returns as the Spaniard stands aggressively just inside the baseline.

    Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 0-2: Badosa opens the door for Gauff with a double fault for 30-30 but soon closes it off a superb point from both players. The Spaniard is on the front foot looking to move towards the net and when Gauff tries to lob her is able to reach a high ball to smash a winner. Gauff nets a backhand as Badosa holds to 30.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 0-1: Badosa breaks! The Spaniard is up and running for the start of the second set and quickly has another break point after a sloppy Gauff backhand. This time the American is able to save it with a scorching serve and volley off the return for deuce. Gauff moves to advantage four times, the third coming from an ace that she quickly gives up with a double fault, before Badosa claims four more break points. The No 11 seed completes the break as Gauff gets too far under a forehand from the baseline. Badosa is on top with her return of serve as that game took 13 minutes.

    Paula Badosa celebrates a break point against Coco Gauff during day 10 of the 2025 Australian Open. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

    Gauff v Badosa* 5-7: Paula Badosa holds to take the first set 7-5 in 50 minutes. Gauff has her chances to break back immediately while facing a second serve at 30-30, but lacks the patience as she goes for a backhand down the line straight off the return and gets too far around the shot. Gauff then sends a forehand over the baseline off a short rally and will have to fight back from a set down for the second match in a row.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff* v Badosa 5-6: Badosa breaks! The No 11 seed pulls out to 0-30 but is unable to make the most of a Gauff second serve with a lacklustre return that allows the American to take control of the point. The Spaniard confidently attacks on the backhand but is hits narrowly wide for 30-30, but then gets to the net and closes the door with a string of volleys before diving to her left with a backhand that sets up break point. A powerful forehand seals the break and Badosa will serve for the opening set.

    Gauff v Badosa* 5-5: Badosa holds to 15 as the Spaniard lands more of her first serves. The No 11 seed has only dropped two points off her first serve but the concern is that she has only landed 45% of them.

    Gauff* v Badosa 5-4: Gauff eases to 40-0 with a pair of confident winners off each side then gives up the first point off her serve for a couple of games with a double fault. The American sends Badosa wide with her next serve then comes forward to smash the return away and hold. The Spaniard needs to find a way to test Gauff on her serve more and will now serve to stay in the set.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff v Badosa* 4-4: Gauff is largely untroubled off Badosa’s serve to take the game to 30-30 before the American nets twice off the forehand. The rallies are starting to stretch out longer as both players are happy to play down the middle of the court more.

    Gauff* v Badosa 4-3: Gauff starts with an ace – her second the day – then holds to love in her most comfortable service game so far. This time it’s Badosa’s turn to misfire off the forehard.

    Gauff v Badosa* 3-3: Badosa holds to 30 despite her first double fault of the match as we remain on serve on RLA.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff* v Badosa 3-2: Gauff fires in her first ace of the day at 0-15 then patiently waits for a pair of errors on Badosa’s forehand. The No 3 seed sends Badosa scampering back and forth across the baseline then closes out the game to 15 with a blistering forehand while on the move.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff v Badosa* 2-2: Gauff set ups well behind the baseline as she comfortably returns serve the waits for unforced errors from Badosa to pull away to 0-30. Gauff nets, hits wide then long as Badosa continues to target her opponent’s forehand but the American sets up the next point when clubbing cross-court off the same side for deuce. Gauff does the same with perhaps the shot of the day so far, hitting from deep in the right corner to the far left for another deuce before Badosa finally holds.

    Coco Gauff plays a forehand against Paula Badosa at the 2025 Australian Open. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff* v Badosa 2-1: Badosa sets up the first break points of the match as the Spaniard peppers Gauff’s forehand. But the No 3 seed serves her way out of trouble from 15-40 to fight back to deuce, as another powerful first serve and limp return takes Gauff to advantage. Three first serves in a row sail long to keep Badosa in the game until Gauff rediscovers her radar to hold. The importance of the first serve today has quickly become apparent.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff v Badosa* 1-1: Badosa starts with an ace then Gauff sends a return long at. The Spaniard quickly finishes off a pair of rallies to race through her serve to love.

    Paula Badosa hits a return against Coco Gauff during their women’s singles match at the Australian Open. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images
    Share

    Updated at 

    Gauff* v Badosa 1-0: Gauff starts with a comfortable hold as the 20-year-old’s poweful serve troubles Badosa from the get go.

    Share

    Updated at 

    Coco Gauff is ready to serve first against Paula Badosa. Let the quarter-finals begin …

    Australia’s Alex de Minaur is another to reach a personal best at his home grand slam, brushing aside young American Alex Michelsen in straight sets last night to set up a quarter-final showdown with Jannik Sinner.

    Jack Snape was at Melbourne Park to cover the No 8 seed as he reached the last eight at the Australian Open for the first time.

    Gauff and Badosa are familiar opponents, having met eight times previously with the head-to-head tied at 4-4. Badosa has show signs of returning to her best especially in a three-set win when challenged by 17th seed Marta Kostyuk in the third round. This is the first time the Spaniard has reached the last eight at Melbourne Park as she now seeks a breakthrough grand slam semi-final.

    Coco Gauff dropped a set for the first time at the 2025 Australian Open during the round of 16 before eventually overrunning the returning Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. The No 3 seed can expect another tough battle today against former world No 2 and 11th seed Paula Badosa who is rapidly returning to form after her career was threatened by a chronic back injury. Both players are arriving with plenty of bounce in their step as they make their way onto RLA.

    Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa are warming up away from the heat and in the caverns of Melbourne Park, but a reminder of how the third seed progressed to the last eight and within one step of a much-anticipated match-up with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

    The temperature is heating up along with the action on the show courts with a high of 33C expected at Melbourne Park and sure to test the players during the day session.

    The forecast for the rest of the week is a much more tennis-friendly low-to-mid 20s.

    A hot and partly cloudy day, though cooler by the coast.

    Isolated showers over the far eastern ranges during the afternoon and the chance of a thunderstorm.

    Light winds, tending moderate south to southwesterly during the afternoon in western and central districts. pic.twitter.com/X2rtsACjSx

    — Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) January 20, 2025

    https://x.com/BOM_Vic/status/1881447792217886889

    Preamble

    Martin Pegan

    Martin Pegan

    Hello and welcome to live coverage of day 10 at the 2025 Australian Open and the start of the women’s and men’s singles quarter-finals.

    First up on centre court from 11.30am AEDT will be Coco Gauff (3) and Paula Badosa (11) meeting for a spot in the last four to take on the winner of the Aryna Sabalenka (1) or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27) quarter-final at 7pm this evening.

    In the men’s singles, Alexander Zverev (2) faces Tommy Paul (12) this afternoon to decide who will await the victor of the mouth-watering Novak Djokovic (7) and Carlos Alcaraz (3) clash later this evening.

    I’ll be focused on all the shots and scores on Rod Laver Arena but do let us know if you have anything to share out of, or away from, the main events whether on email, or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!





    The Australian Open quarter-finals are heating up with some thrilling matchups and surprising upsets. In the first quarter-final, Alexander Zverev will face off against rising star Tommy Paul in what promises to be a tightly contested match. Meanwhile, in a major upset, Paula Badosa has defeated Coco Gauff to advance to the semi-finals.

    Later today, all eyes will be on the highly anticipated match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, the defending champion, will be looking to continue his dominant form and secure a spot in the semi-finals. However, Alcaraz, the young Spanish sensation, will be eager to pull off an upset and make a statement on the big stage.

    Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as the action unfolds at the Australian Open 2025. Who will come out on top and advance to the next round? Only time will tell.

    Tags:

    Australian Open 2025, Zverev vs Paul, Badosa upsets Gauff, Djokovic vs Alcaraz, quarter-finals, live updates, tennis, Grand Slam tournament, Australian Open match, sports news, player matchups, upset victory, top players, live streaming, tennis highlights.

    #Australian #Open #quarterfinals #Zverev #Paul #Badosa #upsets #Gauff #Djokovic #Alcaraz #live #Australian #Open

  • Women’s College Basketball Rankings: AP Poll Top 25 after multiple upsets


    The Women’s College Basketball AP Poll Top 25 has been updated again. This time it comes after a week of exciting conference action that included multiple ranked teams dropping games and another team in the AP Top 10, Ohio State, getting upset since the last time the poll came out.

    A week of upsets is always going to lead to a shakeup in the rankings. This week is no different and there’s plenty of movement. For those teams that won, they’ll have the opportunity to take a jump forward in the rankings. Meanwhile, depending on the loss, those ranked teams came into the week expecting to drop in the AP Poll.

    With all of that in mind, here’s a look at how this week’s AP Top 25 Poll shakes out for women’s college basketball:

    The UCLA Bruins are dealing with the fallout from the tragic fires in Los Angeles, which has impacted the entire community. For UCLA, they have both had to move the location of games meanwhile their game against Northwestern ended up being postponed. Still, when they were able to play Penn State, they earned the win last week.

    Next week, the Bruins are set to take on Baylor in an interesting non-conference road test. From there, UCLA is set to return to Big Ten play with an East Coast trip. That will include a game against Rutgers this next week before a tough game against Maryland to finish up a busy week of games and travel.

    South Carolina women's basketball stars Raven Johnson, Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson, and Chloe Kitts. Photo by: Katie Dugan | GamecockCentral
    South Carolina women’s basketball stars Raven Johnson, Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson, and Chloe Kitts. Photo by: Katie Dugan | GamecockCentral

    South Carolina continues to dominate opponents in SEC play. That’s even after playing a difficult schedule last week against Alabama and Oklahoma. Both of those teams were ranked at the time they played, still the Gamecocks won by double digits in both games, including a 101-60 win over Oklahoma.

    On Thursday, South Carolina is going to play one of the biggest games of the regular season. That’s when they’ll take on LSU at home. For the time being, the Tigers are unbeaten and it should be one of the best matchups between AP ranked teams all season long that helps determine the SEC regular season race.

    Since Notre Dame dropped two games in a row the Irish have now won 11 games in a row, including multiple games against AP ranked opponents and ACC opponents. They were even briefly without star Hannah Hidalgo. Still, the Irish earned wins against Georgia Tech and SMU last week, with Hidalgo returning for the SMU win.

    With Hidalgo back, the Irish are going to be very difficult to beat in the ACC moving forward. On top of that, Notre Dame has a relatively light week to rest up this week, only playing one game. That’s a conference test against Boston College on Thursday.

    The USC Trojans, like UCLA, have been impacted by the Los Angeles fires. That manifested for the team on the court by having a game against Northwestern postponed. Still, once USC got on the road last week they were able to add another win on the road at Indiana.

    That road trip is going to continue into next week with a road game against Purdue. However, that’s USC’s only game next week. So, the Trojans should have some time to hit the reset button going into the end of January.

    LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson
    © Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

    The LSU Tigers are still unbeaten and are now sitting highly ranked in the AP Poll. For some time, LSU had not been ranked overly highly due to their non-conference schedule. However, after adding wins against Vanderbilt and Florida amid a hot start to SEC play, LSU is clearly a major threat this season.

    Next week, LSU is preparing for perhaps its biggest test in the entire regular season. LSU is set to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in a road test. This comes at a time when South Carolina is clicking on all cylinders. So, the Tigers need to be ready for a massively challenging game on Thursday.

    UConn is off to a dominant start in Big East play. Now 8-0 in conference play, the Huskies added wins against St. John’s and Seton Hall last week. The Seton Hall win was particularly impressive, winning that game 96-36. That’s a Pirates team sitting at third in the Big East standings.

    It seems like Creighton, also unbeaten in Big East play, is going to be UConn’s big threat in the regular season. That’s not UConn’s next game, but it is coming up this next week. First, the Huskies host Villanova. After that, it’s a road trip to take on those Bluejays on Saturday.

    After dropping a tough game against South Carolina, Texas had a week with only one game to try and bounce back. They were able to do that well, beating Auburn by double digits on Thursday. That loss to South Carolina wasn’t overly costly in the AP Poll and bouncing back well has helped too.

    This upcoming week is going to be much more difficult. Starting on Monday, Texas has a very difficult non-conference game against Maryland. After that, it’s back to SEC play with Tennessee and Ole Miss, making for a busy week ahead. 

    Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers drives against Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke. (Photo by Dennis Scheidt)
    Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers drives against Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke. (Photo by Dennis Scheidt)

    Another team coming off a week with only one game is Maryland. Still, it was a tricky game, with the Terrapins playing an AP-ranked Minnesota team. That game ended up being one of the most exciting of the week. In a shootout, Maryland was able to win 99-92.

    Now, with only one loss in the season, Maryland is staring down the barrel of an incredibly difficult week. The Terrapins have three games coming up. The first is a non-conference game against Texas. Then, it’s back to Big Ten play against Ohio State and UCLA. So, by next week, there should be another major shakeup in the rankings.

    TCU continues to roll through Big 12 play. Last week, that started with a win against UCF. From there, the Horned Frogs had a tougher test against Utah, but they were still able to win 81-73. With that, they’ve moved into the Top 10 of the AP Poll.

    It seems like the Big 12 is a race between TCU and Kansas State this season. However, this is a conference with plenty of teams capable of making noise and winning on a given night. That includes Oklahoma State, who TCU is playing this week. After that, it’s an interesting test against Baylor.

    Kansas State moved into the Top 10 of the AP Poll on the back of two more Big 12 wins. These came against Arizona and Arizona State respectively. By the end, neither one of those was a particularly close game either.

    It’s going to be some time before Kansas State gets its shot at TCU. In the meantime, they’ll need to maintain their focus and avoid any possible upsets along the way. Next week that’s going to include a pair of tough tests with Colorado and Iowa State scheduled.

    Rest of AP Top 25 Poll

    11. Kentucky
    12. Ohio State
    13. North Carolina
    14. Duke
    15. Oklahoma
    16. West Virginia
    17. Tennessee
    18. Georgia Tech
    19. Alabama
    20. NC State
    21. Michigan State
    22. Cal
    23. Minnesota
    24. Michigan
    25. Baylor



    After a wild week of upsets in women’s college basketball, the latest AP Poll Top 25 rankings have seen some major shakeups. Several top teams fell to unranked opponents, causing a shift in the standings. Here are the updated rankings:

    1. South Carolina
    2. UConn
    3. Louisville
    4. Stanford
    5. NC State
    6. Arizona
    7. Baylor
    8. Maryland
    9. Michigan
    10. Texas
    11. Oregon
    12. Tennessee
    13. Indiana
    14. Iowa
    15. Kentucky
    16. Ohio State
    17. Gonzaga
    18. Georgia
    19. Arkansas
    20. South Florida
    21. Syracuse
    22. Oregon State
    23. Florida State
    24. Missouri State
    25. DePaul

    It’s clear that no team is safe from an upset in women’s college basketball, making for an exciting and unpredictable season. As the conference tournaments approach, keep an eye on these top teams as they battle for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Stay tuned for more updates on the AP Poll rankings as the season progresses.

    Tags:

    • Women’s College Basketball Rankings
    • AP Poll Top 25
    • Upsets in Women’s College Basketball
    • NCAA Women’s Basketball Rankings
    • AP Poll Women’s Basketball
    • Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Teams
    • Women’s College Basketball Upsets
    • March Madness Women’s Basketball Rankings
    • NCAA Women’s Basketball Poll
    • Women’s College Basketball Standings

    #Womens #College #Basketball #Rankings #Poll #Top #multiple #upsets

  • Three top 10 upsets in action-packed Saturday of men’s basketball


    West Virginia takes down Iowa State, Vanderbilt stuns Tennessee and Alabama tops Kentucky — all on an exciting Saturday of men’s college basketball.

    Here’s a closer look at some of the most exciting games:

    West Virginia shocks No. 2 Iowa State

    basketball

    West Virginia knocked off No. 2 Iowa State 64-57, handing the Cyclones their first conferences loss of the season.

    Javon Small dropped an astounding 27 points on 56 percent shooting from the field as the Mountaineers led by as many as 10 points.

    Defensively, West Virginia only allowed one three pointer, holding Iowa State to 1-17 shooting from deep. While three Cylcones scored in double figures, they only got six points from the bench. The ball movement wasn’t good either as Iowa State had just four assists to 14 turnovers.

    It all led to West Virginia’s third win over a top-10 team this season and a court storming in Morgantown.

    Vanderbilt topples No. 6 Tennessee

    Vanderbilt defeats No. 6 Tennessee

    Vanderbilt has taken down the Volunteers for just the second time in their last 15 matchups 76-75.  

    Historically, the program improves to 6-2 against a top-10-ranked Tennessee team in Memorial Gymnasium. 

    Vandy led 41-35 at the half, going on a 7-0 run late in the first and getting the home crowd involved against its instate rival. The Commodores jumped out to a 53-40 lead in the first four minutes of the second half behind four consecutive threes. 

    Vanderbilt extended its lead to 16 at the midway point of the second half, in full control of the sixth-ranked Volunteers. But Rick Barnes’ team battled back, going on a 14-4 run in the final seven minutes to cut the Vols deficit to 76-74 with 45 seconds to play. 

    Tennessee inbounded the ball with 11 seconds to play down two when Chaz Lanier drove to the rim looking for an easy basket. However, Vandy’s Chris Manon trailed Lanier perfectly, elevating to pin Lanier’s layup against the glass. 

    The Vols fouled, sending the Commodores to the line for a one-and-one to extend the lead. But Vandy missed the first free throw before fouling Lanier and sending Tennessee to the line with a chance to tie the game. 

    Lanier drilled his first free throw with two seconds to play, but he could not cash in on his second as the ball bounced off the rim to end the game. 

    Vanderbilt guard Jason Edwards led the game with 18 points, shooting an efficient 60% from the field. Lanier paced the Vols with 17, going 4-6 from beyond the arc. 

    Tennessee drops its second SEC matchup in its past four games, falling to 16-2 (3-2 SEC) on the season. 

    The Commodores improve to 15-3 (3-2 SEC) before heading to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 4 Alabama on Tuesday. 

    Alabama MBB
    basketball

    No. 7 Marquette lost its first conference game of the season, 59-57, at home to Xavier. The Musketeers controlled the upset win from start to finish, never trailing against a top-10 team.

    It’s Xavier’s first win at Marquette in eight years and first ever in the Fiserv Forum. Moreover, the Musketeers landed their first Quad 1 win of the season.

    Xavier’s Zach Freemantle and Daily Swain scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, with Freemantle landing a double-double thanks to 10 rebounds. 

    However, it was defense that won the Musketeers the game at the end. After falling behind by as many as 19 points in the second half, Marquette rallied late to make it a two-point game on the final possession. Good hands from Swain defensively stopped the scoring attempt and landed Xavier the win.

    Creighton stuns No. 14 UConn on the road 

    Creighton men's basketball Jamiya Neal

    Creighton upset No. 14 UConn on the road, winning 68-63, to jump ahead of the Huskies (13-5, 5-2 Big East) in Big East standings and pick up its second ranked win of the season and conference play. 

    A team that has arguably been unbeatable at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, the Bluejays’ (12-6, 5-2 Big East) road win marks UConn’s first loss at home in nearly two years.

    Neither team gave the other an inch of space in the first half, trading blows that resulted in no lead bigger than five points until the final moments before the break. Creighton led 35-28 at the break.

    The Huskies erased the Bluejays lead in the first five minutes of the second half, tying it at 41 apiece. However, they were unable to make it over the hump and take the lead once — tying it twice more before the final buzzer.

    UConn’s lack of consistency and ability to string together multiple baskets kept Creighton in the driver’s seat throughout the half, so much so that the Bluejays didn’t make a field goal in the last three minutes of the matchup.

    Creighton finished with four players in double figures, including guard Jamiya Neal’s season-high 24 points. Although the Huskies had three players in double digits, no one dropped over 15 points. 

    No. 15 Mississippi State edges No. 21 Ole Miss in OT thriller

    Riley Kugel shoots a three-pointer to take the lead in overtime against Ole Miss

     

    It wasn’t easy, but Mississippi State ends its two-game losing streak and hands Ole Miss its first SEC loss, 84-81. 

    Mississippi State came out red hot in the first half with an 11-0 run, and it held onto the lead for most of the game. 

    That was until a missed free throw with 24.1 seconds left in regulation gave the Rebels a chance to tie it with a three-pointer. And they did. Ole Miss drew up a play with 14.1 seconds left, and Matthew Murrel drilled a three to tie the game for the first time since tip-off, sending the instate rivalry to overtime. 

    The Rebels took their first lead of the night when a Jaemyn Brakefield dunk put Ole Miss up two early in overtime.  

    The Bulldogs tied it up, then retook the lead after a chase-down block by RJ Melendez led to a corner three from Riley Kugel to go up by two. 

    Then came a big mistake: Mississippi State’s Shawn Jones Jr. was called for a flagrant foul with 4.4 seconds left, giving the Rebels a chance at a five-point play to tie the game. Ole Miss made both free throws and got the ball on the baseline with 4.4 seconds left, down three points. 

    But Brakefield missed the final three-point shot, and Melendez held onto the rebound to run out the clock as the Bulldog faithful let out a sigh of relief. 

    No. 17 Purdue stifles No. 13 Oregon in road win

    Purdue vs Oregon

    No. 17 Purdue relied on a gritty defensive effort to defeat No. 13 Oregon 65-58 in Eugene. Trey Kaufman-Renn led the way for the Boilermakers with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Braden Smith added 15 points and seven assists.

    Purdue (15-4, 7-1 Big Ten) overcame shooting struggles, hitting just 34% from the field and 17% from three-point range, but made up for it with timely free throws, going 25-of-30 from the line. Kaufman-Renn scored 12 points in the second half.

    Oregon (15-3, 4-3 Pac-12) started strong, taking a 31-30 lead into halftime behind Nate Bittle; he ended the game with 18 points and six blocks. However, scoring droughts hurt the Ducks in the second half, including a 1-for-14 stretch from the field that allowed Purdue to pull ahead. Jackson Shelstad chipped in 15 points for Oregon, but the Ducks shot just 24% from beyond the arc and couldn’t capitalize.

    The Boilermakers out-rebounded Oregon 37-32, including 12 offensive boards that led to 14 second-chance points. Purdue also forced 16 turnovers, turning them into 15 points, and held Oregon to 36% shooting overall.

    The win marked Purdue’s seventh straight victory.

    No. 10 Houston escapes UCF 

    basketball

    Six lead changes or ties in the final 2:30. There were two lead changes in the final 10 seconds, with the go-ahead basket not coming until one second remained. That’s how wild Houston and UCF’s Big 12 clash was on Saturday afternoon. 

    Forward J’Wan Roberts made a move in the post with 1.1 seconds left to score the final basket of his game-high 21 points. No one else in the Houston starting lineup reached double figures. Ja’Vier Francis scored 16 points off the bench.

    Roberts’ bucket spoiled the effort of Keyshawn Hall who scored to put UCF up by one point with 9.8 seconds to play. In a losing effort, Moustapha Thiam scored 18 points, Jordan Ivy-Curry scored 14 points and Darius Johnson scored 13 points.

    Stanford defeats UNC on last-second jumper

    Jaylen Blakes Stanford men's basketball

    Stanford took down North Carolina for the first time in program history, 72-71. 

    The Cardinal were 0-6 heading into the matchup in Chapel Hill before Jaylen Blakes put Stanford on top with less than a second remaining. 

    Blakes inbounded the ball, immediately got it back and pushed the length of the floor before pulling up a fadeaway midrange to win the game. 

    It was a close game throughout, with the Tar Heels holding a 36-35 lead at the break. Neither team led by more than five in a second half that featured five lead changes and four ties. 

    Stanford forward Maxime Raynaud paced the game in scoring, dropping 25 points for his 11th 20-point game of the season. North Carolina’s star point guard, RJ Davis, tallied 19 points in the loss, going 6 of 15 from the field. 

    The Tar Heels had won four straight ACC matchups before the game, falling to 5-2 in the conference and 12-7 overall for a team that opened the season ranked ninth in the AP poll. 

    The Cardinal improve to 4-3 in conference play (12-6 overall), bouncing back after a 13-point loss to Wake Forest on Wednesday. 




    1. No. 1 Gonzaga falls to unranked Saint Mary’s in a thriller: The top-ranked Bulldogs were stunned by the Gaels in a back-and-forth contest that came down to the final minutes. Despite being the underdogs, Saint Mary’s managed to pull off the upset and hand Gonzaga their first loss of the season.
    2. No. 3 Purdue upset by unranked Michigan State: The Boilermakers entered the game with an impressive 13-game winning streak, but the Spartans had other plans. Michigan State came out firing on all cylinders and managed to outplay Purdue in a hard-fought battle that ended in a shocking upset.
    3. No. 8 Kansas falls to unranked TCU in a nail-biter: The Jayhawks were considered heavy favorites heading into the game, but the Horned Frogs had other ideas. TCU put on a stellar performance and managed to outlast Kansas in a thrilling overtime matchup that ended with a surprising upset.

      Overall, Saturday’s action-packed slate of men’s basketball games provided plenty of excitement and upsets that kept fans on the edge of their seats. It just goes to show that anything can happen in college basketball, and no team is safe from an upset on any given night.

    Tags:

    1. Upsets in men’s basketball
    2. Top 10 surprises in college basketball
    3. Saturday basketball upsets
    4. College basketball shockers
    5. Men’s basketball underdog wins
    6. NCAA basketball upsets
    7. Saturday hoops surprises
    8. Top 10 college basketball upsets
    9. Shocking Saturday in men’s basketball
    10. March Madness upsets

    #top #upsets #actionpacked #Saturday #mens #basketball

  • Top-seeded Lions and Chiefs avoid upsets; Ravens or Bills in epic tilt?


    Why Gennaro picked the Chiefs: Both teams annoyed us during the regular season, but there are levels to this. The back-to-back reigning champion Chiefs won 15 of their first 16 games, took a ninth straight division title and clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Christmas. And yet, they caught flak for the way they won, often playing with their food before eating a W. Compare that to the Texans, who won five of their first six games … then underwhelmed for the better part of three months to ultimately take the AFC’s worst division almost by default. Owning a quintessentially average point differential of ZERO, Houston opened the playoffs as a home underdog — or, as some opined, a “bye week” for the visiting Chargers.

    Here’s the interesting part, though: DeMeco Ryans’ group impressively rallied on Wild Card Weekend, smashing the Bolts, 32-12, while showcasing the kind of suffocating pass rush that could exploit Kansas City’s well-documented protection issues. Furthermore, the Texans played a tight game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium less than a month ago. So, what’s stopping me from predicting Houston will flip the script on Saturday?

    Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

    Kansas City’s head coach boasts a remarkable career record of 32-7 after a bye, leading me to believe that, yes, he will have a plan to stymie edge monsters Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. As for the Chiefs’ quarterback? Well, this is the time of year when the man’s fully locked in. Just ask him about this past Sunday, when his wife gave birth to the couple’s third child.

    “It was cool that football was on TV when I was in the hospital, so I got to watch a little bit,” Mahomes said. “Brittany was kind enough to let us watch football as she was getting ready to give birth to our second daughter.”



    In a thrilling weekend of NFL playoff action, the top-seeded Lions and Chiefs managed to avoid upsets, advancing to the next round with impressive victories. The Lions showed their dominance with a commanding win over the underdog Falcons, while the Chiefs held off a determined Raiders team to secure their spot in the divisional round.

    But all eyes are now on the highly anticipated matchup between the Ravens and the Bills. Both teams are coming off strong performances in the wild card round, and fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an epic tilt between two powerhouse teams.

    The Ravens, led by dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson, are looking to continue their playoff success and make a deep run in the postseason. Meanwhile, the Bills, led by the dynamic duo of Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, are hungry for their first Super Bowl appearance in decades.

    With both teams boasting strong defenses and explosive offenses, this matchup is sure to be a must-watch for football fans everywhere. Will the Ravens continue their playoff momentum, or will the Bills come out on top in this clash of titans? Tune in to find out in what is sure to be a thrilling showdown between two of the NFL’s best teams.

    Tags:

    1. Lions
    2. Chiefs
    3. Upsets
    4. Ravens
    5. Bills
    6. Top-seeded teams
    7. NFL playoffs
    8. Football predictions
    9. Epic matchup
    10. Divisional round.

    #Topseeded #Lions #Chiefs #avoid #upsets #Ravens #Bills #epic #tilt

  • American Learner Tien upsets Daniil Medvedev at Australian Open


    MELBOURNE, Australia — Learner Tien, a 19-year-old qualifier from California, became the youngest American man to reach the Australian Open’s third round since Pete Sampras in 1990, upsetting a racket-tossing Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a match that began Thursday night and ended in the wee hours of Friday.

    The 4-hour, 49-minute contest had a bit of everything, including — hard to believe — a six-minute rain delay that interrupted play shortly before 2:30 a.m. with Tien serving at 5-all, 15-all in the fifth set. When they resumed, Medvedev broke and served for the victory at 6-5, but Tien wouldn’t cede a thing, broke back, and forced the concluding first-to-10 tiebreaker that he emerged to win shortly before 3 a.m., about two hours after he failed to convert his initial match point.

    “Belief is a big thing in succeeding and winning, in general. I always go on the court believing that there’s a chance I can win,” said Tien, who showed up at his news conference toting a white cardboard box with a pepperoni pizza. “I wasn’t trying to think of the match as anything more important than any other match I’ve ever played. I was just going to go out there, have fun, see what I could do.”

    As for the postmatch snack, he said, “It was either going to be celebratory or a binge-y, like, cope. It feels better it’s more celebratory, for sure.”

    The outcome was eyebrow-raising because of the wide gulf in experience and accomplishments between the two players at Margaret Court Arena. Tien is ranked 121st and owned a career Grand Slam record of 0-3 before this week; Medvedev was seeded No. 5, won the 2021 US Open and was the runner-up at Melbourne Park in three of the past four years, including 12 months ago.

    “It was definitely harder than maybe it could have been, but, whatever,” Tien said on court right afterward, then told the crowd: “I really appreciate all you guys staying out here. I know it’s late. I have no idea what time it is.”

    Tien’s upset over Medvedev was the biggest upset in the men’s draw by betting odds so far, as Tien closed as a +400 underdog, according to ESPN BET odds. However, the biggest upset of this year’s tournament so far came on the women’s side when Laura Siegemund, a +1100 underdog by ESPN BET odds, took down 5-seed Zheng Qinwen in second-round play.

    “I was definitely hoping it wouldn’t go to a fifth-set breaker. … It was definitely harder than maybe it could have been, but, whatever,” Tien said, then told the crowd: “I really appreciate all you guys staying out here. I know it’s late. I have no idea what time it is.”

    Because of the time difference, the match ended at about 8 a.m. on Thursday morning back home in California, and he took the microphone to speak directly to his family — he said he hoped they were tuned in on TV.

    “I don’t know if my parents are still watching. … I love you guys. Thank you for always supporting me from across the world,” Tien said. “I know you guys wish you could be here. I wish you could be here, too.”

    The left-handed Tien played fearlessly and almost flawlessly for stretches, surprisingly getting the better of lengthy exchanges at the baseline: Across the first two sets, he won 32 of the 51 points that lasted nine or more strokes, even coming out on top on one that went 45 shots and another that lasted 32.

    Tien did not blink until he reached the precipice of by far his most important win, holding a match point in the third-set tiebreaker when he led it 7-6. But Medvedev erased that with a 122 mph ace and eventually converted his third set point at a little past 1 a.m., then easily pushed things to the fifth set.

    Medvedev was penalized a point in the third set while showing the same sorts of signs of frustration that led him to destroy a tiny camera hanging in the net by smacking it with his racket during a surprisingly difficult, five-set, first-round win against an opponent ranked 418th.

    After getting broken to trail 4-3 in the second set when Tien delivered a lob that landed at a baseline — not the only time he did that to his 6-foot-6 foe — Medvedev chucked his equipment toward the sideline, skidding it across the court until it reached an advertising panel near his bench. At other moments of anger, Medvedev hit a ball against the back wall, toppled a camera behind a baseline and punched his racket bag. He also voiced displeasure about being called for two consecutive foot-faults, resulting in a double fault, during the second-set tiebreaker.

    This was Medvedev’s first tournament of the season — his wife recently gave birth to their second child — and he never really displayed his best tennis. As he often does, the 28-year-old Russian shifted tactics in an attempt to change the course of things, pushing forward to the net frequently early in the third set.

    Some mistakes by Tien handed over a service break and a 4-3 lead to Medvedev in that set. But Tien broke right back, then held for a 5-4 edge after Medvedev got docked a point.

    Tien reached two junior Grand Slam singles finals in 2023, at the Australian Open and US Open, and played one semester of college tennis at Southern California before turning pro that year.

    He just turned 19 last month, and now is the youngest man from the United States to get this far at the Australian Open since an 18-year-old Sampras reached the fourth round in 1990. Sampras won the US Open later that year for the first of his 14 Grand Slam titles, a total that ranks fourth among men in tennis history. Tien and Alex Michelsen are the first pair of American men 20 or younger to advance to the third round at a major since 2003, and the first at the Australian Open since 1990.

    The Tien-Medvedev match was the latest significant result for a teen in Melbourne this year.

    Tien joined Joao Fonseca of Brazil and Martin Landaluce of Spain as the first trio of teenagers to participate in the qualifying rounds and make the men’s bracket at a major since Wimbledon in 2017. Then Fonseca, who beat No. 9 Andrey Rublev, and Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic, who defeated No. 6 Casper Ruud, became the first pair of teens to beat top-10 men at the same Grand Slam tournament since Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray did it at Wimbledon in 2006.

    Now Tien makes it three. He called what Fonseca and Mensik did “definitely pretty inspiring.”

    Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.



    In a stunning upset at the Australian Open, American tennis player Tien shocked the world by defeating number one seed Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set match. Tien, who was ranked as an underdog going into the match, showed incredible determination and skill to overcome the odds and defeat the top-ranked player.

    Tien’s victory was met with shock and awe from fans and spectators, as Medvedev was considered a strong favorite to win the tournament. Tien’s win is a testament to the hard work and dedication he has put into his game, and it is sure to be a moment that will go down in tennis history.

    Tien’s victory is not only a triumph for himself, but also for American tennis as a whole. It serves as a reminder that anything is possible in the world of sports, and that with hard work and determination, even the most unlikely of victories can be achieved.

    As Tien advances to the next round of the Australian Open, fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see if he can continue his incredible run and potentially make history once again. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting tournament!

    Tags:

    1. American Learner Tien
    2. Daniil Medvedev
    3. Australian Open
    4. Upset victory
    5. Tennis match
    6. Grand Slam tournament
    7. American tennis player
    8. Top seed defeated
    9. Australian Open upset
    10. Tennis upset win

    #American #Learner #Tien #upsets #Daniil #Medvedev #Australian #Open

  • Australian Open 2025 | Jakub Mensik upsets Casper Ruud on Margaret Court Arena; Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray feat equalled as two teens defeat top 10 stars


    Teen prodigy Jakub Mensik has caused a massive upset, defeating world No.6 Casper Ruud in the second round of the Australian Open.

    Playing on Margaret Court Arena, Mensik was clinical with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory.

    The 19-year-old’s triumph came on the same court that Joao Fonseca defeated Andrey Rublev the night before as two top-10 males stars were sent packing.

    LIVE UPDATES: Australian Open 2025, day 4 results and highlights

    READ MORE: Reigning AO finalist stunned by veteran in huge ‘boilover’

    READ MORE: Football club sacks eagle handler over lewd photos

    As Mensik pushed his way to a 6-1 win in the third set, former Australian tennis player John Fitzgerald delivered high praise to the Czech youngster.

    “At times we all get ahead of ourselves but this kid to me looks like he could be a future grand slam champion. He’s a serious player,” he said on Nine’s coverage.

    Jakub Mensik celebrates his victory.  Getty

    With the score sitting at 3-3 in the fourth set, Mensik made his move by breaking the serve of Ruud to lead 4-3. He then stayed composed to win the set 6-4.

    Mensik raised both hands in the air after the win as the crowd roared in appreciation.

    “He’s here to stay … what a game he has, it’s a frightening game,” Fitzgerald said.

    “I just love seeing young players play, it warms my heart … it’s just enlightening for me to see them come.”

    Watch the Australian Open live & free on the 9Network & 9Now. Stan Sport is the only place to watch every match ad-free, live & on demand with centre court in 4K.

    The result makes it the first time since 2006 that two teenage players have beaten top 10 players at a major. Those two back then were Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

    Mensik’s win against Ruud also makes it his fifth win against top 10 players.

    The world No.48 was modest when revealing his secret behind such success.

    “I’m just happy I have the opportunity to play against these players and am trying to enjoy every moment on the court. When I’m enjoying myself on the court, that’s the key and when I’m playing my best tennis,” Mensik said post-match.



    In a stunning upset at the Australian Open 2025, rising star Jakub Mensik shocked the tennis world by defeating world number 5 Casper Ruud on Margaret Court Arena. The young Czech player showed incredible poise and skill as he took down the higher-ranked opponent in a thrilling match that had fans on the edge of their seats.

    But Mensik wasn’t the only teenager making waves at this year’s tournament. In a remarkable feat, two other young players managed to defeat top 10 stars, echoing the historic moment when Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray burst onto the scene and took down established players early in their careers.

    The Australian Open 2025 has proven to be a showcase of the next generation of tennis talent, with these young players proving that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level. As the tournament continues, all eyes will be on Mensik and his fellow teenage stars as they look to continue their impressive run and make a name for themselves on the international stage.

    Tags:

    Australian Open 2025, Jakub Mensik, Casper Ruud, Margaret Court Arena, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, teens, top 10 stars, upset, tennis, Grand Slam, Melbourne, Australia

    #Australian #Open #Jakub #Mensik #upsets #Casper #Ruud #Margaret #Court #Arena #Novak #Djokovic #Andy #Murray #feat #equalled #teens #defeat #top #stars