Australian Open 2025 LIVE updates: Teen stuns Medvedev in late-night thriller; Collins in spat with fans; Sabalenka, Alcaraz, Djokovic chase titles

Daniil Medvedev is out of the Australian Open, beaten by 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien in an epic five-setter that lasted nearly five hours and finished with the clock ticking close to 3am on Friday morning.

Three-time finalist Medvedev will leave Melbourne with more chapters added to his remarkable Australian Open history, having spent close to eight hours on court but his tournament ending in just the second round. Instead, Tien has become the youngest American man to reach the third round in Melbourne since Pete Sampras in 1990.

Tien was victorious 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7 (8-10), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) to end a day at Melbourne Park which attracted the single biggest attendance in Open history – 95,881 patrons. Only a couple of thousand were still in the stands at Margaret Court Arena when the final point was won.

Learner soared to a two-sets-to-love advantage and had a match point during the third set tiebreaker. The Russian saved that moment with an ace, and then won the third and fourt sets.

Californian Tien explained the drastic change in the match. “In the fourth set, I just had to pee so bad. I was trying to finish it up quick, and I wanted to start the fifth serving. I scrapped out that last game and it all worked out,” he said on court.

The deciding set was replete with twists and turns and, of all unlikely occurrences at 2.27am in the morning, a rain delay with forced the players courtside for a six-minute break as ballkids and staff quickly closed the roof and mopped up the court.

Medvedev’s tournament, albeit brief as it was, will be remembered for his battle to get past little-known Thai opponent Kasidit Samrej in the first round, including a moment of frustration when he whacked a net camera multiple times, destroying his racquet. That offence could attract a fine of up to $80,000.

Last year’s runner-up also incurred a point penalty on Thursday night when he chucked his equipment toward the sideline, skidding it across the court until it reached an advertising panel near his bench. In another decisive moment, he voiced displeasure about being called for two consecutive foot-faults, resulting in a double-fault, during the second-set tiebreaker.

Medvedev also skipped his post-match media commitments early on Friday morning, a choice which will also attract a fine from tournament officials.

Feisty American tennis star Danielle Collins has doubled down on her mocking of rowdy Australian fans, telling them they will help fund her next “five-star” holiday to the Bahamas.

Collins embraced the role of pantomime villain during and particularly after her 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2 defeat of Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava on Kia Arena on Thursday night.

Collins celebrated her victory over Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava by cupping her ear to the Kia Arena crowd on Thursday and repeatedly saying, “How about that?” before playfully kissing her hand then slapping her backside as she walked to her chair.

That followed her telling fans to “shut up” in the opening game of the second set after they yelled out between her first and second serves. She won the match 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2.

The Kia Arena crowd showered Collins with boos – stopping only to cheer Aiava as she walked from the court – prompting Collins to grab the microphone in her post-match interview.

“I was thinking during the match, if I’m out here, I might as well take that big fat pay cheque and go on a holiday,” Collins said.

“Coco [Vandeweghe] and I love taking a holiday. Part of that cheque is going to go to that.”

Later in her press conference, Collins said: “One of the greatest things about being a professional athlete is the people that don’t like you and the people that hate you – they actually pay your bills. It’s kind of a cool concept.

“Obviously, my professional career is not going to last forever, so I just remind myself every day when I have that kind of stuff, they’re paying my bills … it’s all going towards the Danielle Collins fund.”

Read Marc McGowan’s full story here.