ATP Match of the Year honorable mentions: Learner Tien denies Medvedev in Melbourne epic and more

This week, we counted down our Top 5 best ATP matches of the 2025 tennis season...

No. 5: Tommy Paul and Nuno Borges go deep into the night at the US Open

No. 4: *Carlos Alcaraz, Arthur Fils trade heavy haymakers and sliding gets in Monte Carlo*

No. 3: *Flavio Cobolli, Zizou Bergs give everything in a 32-point Davis Cup tiebreaker*

No. 2: Arthur Fils sets a new bar for himself in delirious win over Jaume Munar

No. 1: *Carlos Alcaraz reaches God mode to win Roland Garros, but it took Jannik Sinner to push him there*

...but those weren't the only men's matches that thrilled us this year. Read on for some honorable mentions that just missed the cut.

Jannik Sinner d. Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3), Roland Garros semifinals

The final, official changing of the men’s guard: The 38-year-old legend threw everything he had at the 23-year-old heir apparent, and for once it didn’t work.

Learner Tien d. Daniil Medvedev, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6(7), Australian Open second round

The American teen announced his presence with this marathon shocker, and showed off the methodical grit that would take him into the Top 30 by year’s end.

Ben Shelton d. Karen Khachanov, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (3), National Bank Open final

Shelton’s breakthrough season peaked with his first Masters 1000 title, in an intensely fought final. He was a player, not just an athlete, now.

Alex de Minaur d. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (3), Citi Open final

The Australian was twice a winner: First he saved three match points by the skin of his teeth, then he walked across the court to console the man he’d just beaten.

Read more: Washington final 'not the end' for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, says Alex de Minaur

Grigor Dimitrov d. Gael Monfils, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(2), Indian Wells third round

Fourteen years after their first meeting, these two veteran crowd favorites gave Indian Wells fans three hours of stylish, athletic, back-and-forth fun. You don’t need to teach olds dogs new tricks when they already know as many as these two.