On January 15th, the fourth day of competition at the 2025 Australian Open took place. After more than two hours of intense battle, Zheng Qinwen was eliminated with a score of 0-2, failing to defeat world No. 97, Siegemund, and missing out on the top 32, creating an embarrassing record. Defending champion Sabalenka made a comeback from a 2-5 deficit in the second set, winning both sets to eliminate Manero. Grand Slam four-time champion and world No. 3, Alcaraz, won the first set without dropping a game, leading 1-0 against Nishioka Ryo.
Zheng Qinwen, the runner-up last year and the No. 5 seed, won three titles last year and arrived directly in Melbourne this year. In the first round, she swept past qualifier Dottini in a tiebreak. In the second round, she faced off against three-time Grand Slam doubles champion Siegemund. Despite hitting 11 aces, Zheng Qinwen's rhythm was completely controlled by her opponent. She lost the first set in a tiebreak after leading 3-2 and then lost the second set 3-6, resulting in a surprising elimination and becoming the highest-seeded player to be eliminated in this Australian Open, creating an embarrassing record.
World No. 1 and defending champion Sabalenka faced Spanish player Manero. She easily won the first set 6-3 and completed a stunning comeback from a 2-5 deficit in the second set, winning five games in a row to turn the tide and advance to the third round with a straight-set victory, aiming for a third consecutive Australian Open title.
Alcaraz, hailed as Nadal's successor, achieved fame at a young age and now holds four Grand Slam titles, just one away from completing the career Grand Slam. Today, he faced Japanese player Nishioka Ryo. The No. 3 seed played like a godsend, serving three aces and winning 11 points in the first set, winning six games in a row to give his opponent a bagel, leading 1-0. He is expected to easily advance to the third round without any surprises.