On January 18th, Beijing time, the seventh day of the 2025 Australian Open saw the third round matches in the men's top half and women's bottom half fully underway. Amazingly, Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, a husband-and-wife duo, pulled off upsets against two singles world No. 4 players, Taylor Fritz and Paula Badosa, respectively, on the same day and court, leading to the elimination of two top-four seeds in the Australian Open singles draw! Additionally, veterans and rising stars made history together, with the 38-year-old French veteran Monfils becoming the second player over 38 to reach the men's singles last 16 at a Grand Slam since Roger Federer, while the 19-year-old American prodigy, Rinky Hijikata, became the youngest player to reach the men's singles last 16 at the Australian Open since Rafael Nadal.
At Margaret Court Arena, the Australian Open's second court, Monfils and Svitolina took to the court for the second and third matches of the day. In the third round of the men's singles, Monfils lost the first set but fought back to win three consecutive sets, ultimately defeating American star Fritz with a scoreline of 3-1 (3-6/7-5/7-6(1)/6-4), causing the No. 4 seed in the men's singles to exit the tournament! Since 1991, Monfils has become the second player after Federer to reach the men's singles last 16 at a Grand Slam at the age of 38 or older.
In the subsequent match, Monfils' wife, Svitolina, also caused an upset, mirroring her husband's feat by losing the first set before winning two sets in a row to complete a comeback. She eventually defeated the No. 4 seed Badosa with a scoreline of 2-1 (2-6/6-4/6-0) to advance to the women's singles last 16.
Both matches took place at Margaret Court Arena, both were come-from-behind victories, and both eliminated world No. 4 players. Monfils and Svitolina brought us the most magical day of this year's Australian Open.
Other men's singles matches: 19-year-old American qualifier Rinky Hijikata continued his dark horse journey, following his upset victory over No. 5 seed Medvedev in the previous round by defeating French veteran Paire 3-0, becoming the youngest player to reach the men's singles last 16 at the Australian Open since Nadal in 2005! Mikkelsen swept past No. 19 seed Karatsev 3-0 in a surprise victory, while Australian local favorite De Minaur lost the first set but fought back to win three sets in a row, defeating No. 31 seed Cerundolo 3-1. Sonego also turned things around to win 3-1 against Molcan, and No. 21 seed Shelton defeated No. 16 seed Musetti with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5). World No. 1 and defending champion Sinner defeated American player Giorgi 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to powerfully advance to the last 16!
Other completed matches in the third round of the women's bottom half: No. 2 seed Swiatek swept past Raducanu 6-1, 6-0, No. 6 seed Rybakina overcame her back injury to defeat No. 32 seed Yastremska 6-3, 6-4, No. 8 seed Navarro fought through three sets to eliminate Jabeur with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, No. 9 seed Kasatkina swept past Putintseva 7-5, 6-1, and No. 15 seed Maia was surprisingly swept by Kudermetova with scores of 4-6, 2-6. Lucky loser Li defeated Christian 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a reversal.