Australian Open – Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca, Learner Tien: the “Baby Gen” has already left its mark on Melbourne

They are not 20 years old and they are shaking up the established order. Well, partly. Attentive circuit followers have been keeping a close eye on Jakub Mensik, Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien for several months. And before the launch of this 2025 season, there was a certain curiosity as to whether their work in the offseason would allow them to continue the progress seen last year and to what extent. This start of the Australian fortnight brought a most spectacular response.

In fact, this breath of fresh air was blowing even before the first round in Melbourne. Because three “teenagers” – in this case Fonseca, Tien and… Martin Landaluce – had already escaped from qualifying, this had not happened for almost ten years (there were 5 of them at the 2015 US Open). But what happened in the big picture is more like a tornado.

Because seeing three players under 20 beat Top 10s – Fonseca, Mensik and Tien beating Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev respectively – has never happened in the 21st century. And we had to go back to Wimbledon 2006 to find traces of even two young people performing equally well at the same time with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray (each 19 years old at the time). We have seen worse as a reference.

As a symbol of the cruelty of high-level sport, this “Baby Gen” decimated the famous “Next Gen” in Melbourne, the defeat of Stefanos Tsitsipas against Alex Michelsen being able to add to the toll. Like her predecessor, she was nevertheless nurtured in the Big 3, with Fonseca and Mensik designating Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as their idols. But unlike Tsitsipas, Rublev and other Medvedev, they were not traumatized by the three monsters. They are not promising young players hyped up to embody a succession that the ATP definitely had five years ago: these new talents are part of a fundamental movement already launched and are rushing into the breach.

The “Baby Gen” is thus led by those who have, in fact, already overturned the table. “A few years ago, Jannik (Sinner) and Carlos (Alcaraz) were also teenagers toopointed out Jakub Mensik at a press conference after his victory in the second round over Ruud. We can have the same approach, follow in their footsteps and try to reach the same level playing against them. It’s great that there’s always new blood. Tennis is moving, we can see new and different names at tournaments. For the fans too, it’s really great. We push each other forward.” Tien also confirmed that the performances of his two friends had inspired him.

Uninhibited like Alcaraz and Sinner, these ambitious young people know what it costs to break through so early. Consequently, they reached physical and technical maturity earlier than their elders. “The balls are a lot slower these days, the courts are slower, so they have to hit a lot harder. These guys are monsters“, underlines Mats Wilander, consultant for Eurosport. “Fonseca is calm in attitude, and physically, at 18 years old, he is already as strong as an oak tree. When I look at him, I see the next Carlos Alcaraz. I can’t believe how good he is already“, renchérit John McEnroe.

They all have another fundamental thing in common: great confidence in themselves and their strengths. This is what makes them mentally strong and able to excel even in circumstances unknown to them. Learner Tien, for example, had never played a five-set match. In two rounds, he was able to push himself twice to the end of the long format without any experience. And the second time, he did it after missing the opportunity to finish in three sets against a former world number 1. This means that the head is already solid.

Certainly, neither Joao Fonseca nor Jakub Mensik were able to confirm their exploits, falling in the next round after five sets respectively against Lorenzo Sonego and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (despite match points for the Czech). And nothing says that Learner Tien, who spent a lot of energy, will be there in the second week. But in Melbourne, they have already made an appointment for the rest of the season. The difficulty will then begin for them, because they will no longer benefit from the surprise effect and will be expected around the corner.

“The challenge for the younger generation is to have variety. You can bludgeon the ball from the baseline but adding variety is not easy. This is why Alcaraz and Sinner are so good. Players like Tsitsipas and Rublev stagnated a bit and the new generation caught up quickly“, warns Tim Henman, another Eurosport expert.

From this point of view, there is reason for cautious optimism. Mensik, Fonseca and Tien have very different sizes (from 1.93 to 1.80 meters) and styles. When the Czech impresses with his power and consistency from the baseline, the Brazilian impresses with his explosiveness and fluidity, while the American astonishes with his changes of pace and his tactical knowledge. If they continue on this path, the tennis of the future is inspiring. The Next Gen disappoints? Long live Baby Gen!