Welcome to the Australian Open briefing, where The Athletic delves into the narratives behind the headlines each day of the tournament:
On day nine, Gael Monfils’ enchanting journey came to an end as the remarkable performances of players across Melbourne Park caught up with him.
Mirra Andreeva finds solace in doubles after singles exit :
Following a disappointing loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Sunday, Mirra Andreeva sought comfort just a short distance away.
She made her way to John Cain Arena from Rod Laver Arena to team up in doubles with her fellow Russian and close friend, Diana Shnaider. The duo enjoyed their time together, defeating the Italian team of Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, thereby avenging their earlier defeat in the Olympic gold medal match five months prior.
They returned to action on Monday, overcoming the Australian pair of Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki. Andreeva and Shnaider had recently triumphed at the Brisbane event earlier this month. Their partnership thrives on the classic right-handed and left-handed dynamic, and both players have shared with The Athletic how they strive to keep the atmosphere light-hearted and fun.
For Andreeva, 17, and Shnaider, 20, this experience is invaluable: a welcome respite from the intense pressures of the singles circuit, especially for such young athletes who, by all accounts, deserve time to develop. However, with rankings of No. 13 (Shnaider) and No. 15 (Andreeva), the competitive landscape is relentless, and their previous successes together present a promising opportunity for a significant run in the tournament.
They are set to face the unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova (another Russian) and Sara Sorribes Tormo in the quarterfinals.
Gael Monfils exits the Australian Open with a unique highlight reel :
The challenge of competing against Gael Monfils is evident; even when he is not at his physical best, he remains a formidable opponent.
During the latter part of the second set against Ben Shelton on Sunday, Monfils, at 38 years old, appeared to have the stamina of a 70-year-old. He was experiencing significant cramping after having made history as the oldest player to secure an ATP Tour title, just before entering the second week of the Australian Open and achieving his first top-five victory at a Grand Slam against Taylor Fritz.
However, Monfils, known for his acrobatic style and flair, calculated his strategy. He determined that he needed to execute one solid shot four times during his service games and then seven more in a potential tiebreak. Facing Shelton, a 22-year-old American powerhouse, he was up against a player still mastering returns against a formidable server, who had previously faltered against Adrian Mannarino's cunning at the last Australian Open.
Thus, a career filled with spectacular moments added another hour and a half of extraordinary play that diverged from the norm. While there were no spectacular backhands or mid-air overheads, the entirety of the second set and most of the third, aside from the concluding points, showcased a level of play that was nothing short of astonishing.
Monfils can secure points and games by playing like a backboard just as effectively as he can when showcasing his magical skills. He relies on his opponent to return the ball, allowing his flexible arm to work its magic. He can seemingly hold a tennis ball on his strings indefinitely, placing it precisely or simply returning it until Shelton falters.
“He was painting lines with the forehand and the backhand. Just ripping the ball,” Shelton remarked afterward. “It was one of those moments where you’re unsure if he’s struggling or if he’s in control, but he was hitting a lot of winners.”
Could this truly unfold? It certainly appeared possible, with serve after serve until Shelton began targeting the lines again, and Monfils’ legs ultimately gave out.
The child within me always roots for Gael to succeed. I eagerly anticipate his highlight and trick shots, Shelton remarked afterward.
"Players often feel frustrated when the audience is not supporting them, but honestly, I could only appreciate the fans rallying behind him today. It was a memorable experience for me to witness."
As the match concluded, Shelton, who has spent much of his life watching Monfils' highlights on YouTube, pointed towards one of his heroes and clapped his racket to encourage the crowd to cheer louder—not for himself, but for Monfils.
A day of extraordinary performances concluded with their brilliance:
It was an inevitable outcome. Longshot runs typically unravel, fading away from the exceptional talent that sustained them.
Elena Rybakina fought valiantly despite a troublesome back but ultimately lost in three sets to Madison Keys.
Eva Lys, a fortunate loser, faced the relentless Iga Swiatek and was dispatched in just 59 minutes.
Alex Michelsen, the 20-year-old American who had previously defeated two seeded players, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov, could not overcome the speed and tireless retrieving of hometown favorite Alex De Minaur.
Learner Tien, a 19-year-old qualifier from Orange County who had triumphed over Daniil Medvedev, succumbed to a familiar challenge at Grand Slams: a very late night of competition.
"In the past few days, I was riding a wave of adrenaline that concealed my fatigue," Tien shared in an interview after losing in four sets to Lorenzo Sonego.
"From the start of the match, I felt like I never found that second wind or the momentum that propelled me in some of my earlier matches, particularly in the third round."
Iga Swiatek continues her impressive journey:
The situation is becoming increasingly absurd. After defeating Eva Lys with a score of 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Iga Swiatek has allowed only two games in her last two matches and four in her last three. Throughout the tournament, she has conceded just ten games, and for someone who has consistently delivered bagel and breadstick sets, earning the nickname “Iga’s Bakery” in tennis circles, her performance has been nothing short of remarkable.
Swiatek's dominance was evident as Lys, who managed to put the world No. 2 in a precarious position at 15-40 in the opening game, could only prolong the match to 59 minutes. The three points Lys secured in that initial game represented 30 percent of her total for the entire first set, while Swiatek successfully returned 43 out of 45 shots during the match.
Next up for Swiatek is Emma Navarro, who recently triumphed in a lengthy match against Daria Kasatkina. Navarro, the No. 8 seed, has faced four three-set battles and has been on the brink of elimination in each. Despite her impressive resilience and determination, facing Swiatek in her current form presents a significant challenge, with reaching a third set being the most difficult hurdle.
