Opinion: Eight best third round matches at 2025 Australian Open

The third round of the 2026 Australian Open is about to begin on Friday. Here are the eight best third round matches.

(6) Alex de Minaur–AUS vs. (29) Frances Tiafoe–USA

Even though de Minaur is the higher seed, he has never gone where Tiafoe has been, and that is a grand slam semifinal. Head-to-head, de Minaur has won three of four times. de Minaur won the last meeting, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the fourth round of the 2025 National Bank Open in Toronto.

(14) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina–ESP vs. (19) Tommy Paul–USA

Paul reached the Australian Open semifinal in 2023, and is 4-0 all-time against Davidovich-Fokina, who reached the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open. Paul has beaten Davidovich-Fokina twice at the Australian Open in the past (second round in 2023, 6-2, 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, and fourth round in 2025, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1).

(3) Alexander Zverev–GER vs. (26) Cam Norrie–GB

Zverev is a three-time grand slam finalist (2020 United States Open, 2024 French Open and 2025 Australian Open), versus Norrie, the 2022 Wimbledon semifinalist. Zverev is 6-0 all-time against Norrie, including a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 win in the fourth round of the 2024 Australian Open.

(5) Lorenzo Musetti–ITA vs. Tomas Machac–CZE

Musetti, the 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist, is facing Machac, the 2024 Mixed Doubles Olympic gold medalist. Machac won their only prior meeting, 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of Marseille in 2024.

(9) Taylor Fritz–USA vs. Stanislas Wawrinka–SUI

Fritz reached the final of the United States Open in 2024. Wawrinka is a three-time grand slam champion (2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open and 2016 United States Open) who recently announced he will retire at the end of the year. Wawrinka has beaten Fritz two of three times.

(12) Caper Ruud–NOR vs. Marin Cilic–CRO

Ruud, the three-time grand slam finalist (2022 French Open, 2022 United States Open and 2023 French Open), faces Cilic, the 2014 United States Open champion. Ruud has won all four meetings head-to-head.

(9) Madison Keys–USA vs. Karolina Pliskova–CZE

Keys is the defending Australian Open champion. Pliskova reached the final of the United States Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2021. Pliskova won their only prior meeting, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in the 2020 Brisbane International.

(19) Karolina Muchova–CZE vs. Magda Linette–POL

Muchova reached the French Open final in 2023. Linette reached the semifinal of the 2023 Australian Open. Muchova has won three of four meetings head-to-head.