MELBOURNE, Australia — Alex de Minaur’s quarterfinal loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner introduced the curtain down on the native contingent at this 12 months’s Australian Open.
Some Australians impressed and others did not fairly handle to dwell as much as expectations. As soon as once more, it is time to price their performances.
For this train, we’re solely contemplating singles, not doubles. So, bearing in mind expertise, opposition, efficiency, and that expectation, let’s grade the Australian notables.
Alex de Minaur
Defeated by Jannik Sinner in quarterfinals
Grade: A-
Having reached the quarterfinals on the final three majors to climb to No. 8 on the planet, there was an unlimited quantity of strain and expectation on de Minaur at his dwelling Grand Slam. The Sydneysider met the expectation with 4 gutsy wins to achieve the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the primary time in his profession. Nonetheless, it was a disappointing finish to the marketing campaign, successful simply six video games in opposition to the world’s finest participant.
Aleksandar Vukic
Defeated by Jack Draper in third spherical
Grade: B+
Vukic will surprise what may have been had it been him that received the dramatic fifth-set tiebreak as an alternative of Draper, however nonetheless it was an impressed week of tennis from the world No. 68. Vukic loved one of the best Australian Open of his profession, prevailing over Damir Dzumhur and Twenty second-seed Sebastian Korda, each in 5 set marathons. In the long run, he fell agonisingly wanting a spot within the Spherical of 16, but it surely nonetheless nicely and actually exceeded all expectation.
Tristan Schoolkate
Defeated by Jannik Sinner in second spherical
Grade: B
For 2 hours at Rod Laver Enviornment, little identified Schoolkate regarded as if he was up for inflicting one of many greatest boilovers in Grand Slam historical past. The 23-year-old from Western Australia took the primary set in opposition to Sinner, and if not for one poor service recreation within the second, may very simply have established a two-sets-to-love lead. He would lose the match in 4 units, however his efficiency, alongside along with his first spherical win in opposition to Taro Daniel, was mighty spectacular.
Destanee Aiava
Defeated by Danielle Collins in second spherical
Grade: B-
After successful three matches in qualifying, Aiava earned her place within the Australian Open primary draw and made probably the most of her alternative. The 24-year-old got here from a set all the way down to defeat Belgium’s Greet Minnen within the first spherical earlier than pushing 2022 Melbourne Park finalist Collins all the way in which in one of many extra controversial matches of the match.
READ: ‘They’re paying my payments’ – Collins taunts Aussie Open crowd
James Duckworth
Defeated by Roberto Carballes Baena in second spherical
Grade: C+
The Australian veteran progressed to the second spherical of the match for the primary time since 2021 and simply the second time in a decade with a snug, straight set defeat of Switzerland’s Dominic Stephan Stricker. Duckworth would fall in his second match, however put up a good struggle in opposition to his youthful Spanish opponent.
Emerson Jones
Defeated by Elena Rybakina in first spherical
Grade: C
You can’t solely deal with the rating line on this one, fairly take positives within the publicity and expertise Jones acquired in her main debut. Nerves would have been aplenty in her first primary draw Grand Slam match, however Jones confirmed flashes as to why she is the No. 1-ranked junior on the planet, and in opposition to a top-10 participant besides. The long run is vibrant!
James McCabe
Defeated by Alex Michelsen in second spherical
Grade: C
A dominant straight set win over Spain’s Martin Landaluce to launch his Australian Open marketing campaign had McCabe emerge as a reputation to keep watch over on the match. It was a pity McCabe must play Michelsen within the second spherical, the person who despatched Stefanos Tsitsipas packing on Day 2. The Australian fell in straight units, however the match was far tighter than that rating would seem.
Thanasi Kokkinakis
Defeated by Jack Draper in second spherical
Grade: C
It was a little bit of a combined bag for Kokkinakis at this 12 months’s Open. He impressed with a gutsy four-set win over Roman Safiullin in his first-round match, however, like Vukic, fell to Nice Britain’s Draper in a five-set marathon that went into the early hours of the morning. It is now the fourth 12 months out of the final 5 Kokkinakis has departed his dwelling main on the second spherical stage. He’s but to progress previous this level at Melbourne Park in his profession.
Ajla Tomljanovic
Defeated by Diana Shnaider in second spherical
Grade: C
It could be honest to say the unseeded Tomljanovic broke even this 12 months at Melbourne Park. The 31-year-old veteran of the WTA circuit put in a optimistic displaying to win her first match in opposition to American Ashlyn Krueger in three units, however she simply did not have the firepower, or defence, to bother twelfth seed, Shnaider within the subsequent spherical.
Nick Kyrgios
Defeated by Jacob Fearnley in first spherical
Grade: D+
The Kyrgios return to Grand Slam tennis was one of many greatest tales of this 12 months’s match. Sadly for Australia, it lasted solely two hours. The polarising former world No. 13 was clearly nonetheless battling an stomach harm, sustained finally month’s Brisbane Worldwide, unable to generate energy on his serve or transfer freely across the court docket. For that motive, it is powerful to fail him for his first spherical loss. In reality, honest play for preventing by way of the ache and giving it a crack.
READ: ‘It isn’t satisfying for me’ – How Kyrgios’ comeback became his farewell
Kim Birrell
Defeated by Eva Lys in first spherical
Grade: D
A possibility opened up for Birrell when thirteenth seed Anna Kalinskaya, whom the Australian was scheduled to play within the first spherical, withdrew from the match by way of harm. In her place, German fortunate loser Lys, who did not know she can be stepping on court docket till 10 minutes earlier than the match started. Birrell received simply 4 video games in opposition to the 23-year-old, bowing out after her first Australian Open match for the second time in as a few years.
Jordan Thompson
Defeated by Nuno Borges in second spherical
Grade: D
Seeded at Melbourne Park for the primary time after arguably a career-best marketing campaign in 2024, lots was anticipated of Thompson at this 12 months’s Open. The 30-year-old battled by way of his first-round match in opposition to Germany’s Dominik Koepfer, however was undone by Portugal’s Borges in a very one-sided second-round encounter by which he managed to win simply 9 video games.
Alexei Popyrin
Defeated by Corentin Moutet in first spherical
Grade: F
Very similar to Thompson, Popyrin loved his maiden seeding on the Australian Open in 2025. And very similar to Thompson, he did not ship. Popyrin received the primary Masters 1000 title of his profession final 12 months with a straight units defeat of Andrey Rublev within the Canadian Open remaining and arrived Down Underneath with expectation he may attain the second week of his dwelling Grand Slam. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old failed to fireplace a shot, ousted in 4 units in his opener by the world No. 69.