Learner becomes the teacher: Terrific Tien dumps out three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev at Australian Open
ATP
Well into the early hours of the morning in Melbourne, Daniil Medvedev has been dumped out of the Australian Open as Learner Tien became the teacher in seeing off the three-time finalist in a deciding set epic.
Tien won the tie in four hours and 48 minutes in a match that lasted until 2:55am. He had a match point though prior in the third set tie-break before Medvedev managed to stay alive but returned to seal it 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6.
TIen at the age of 19 becomes the youngest American to defeat a top five player in a major since 1990. But perhaps this could've been seen coming both with Tien's rise and Medvedev's start to the tournament.
Medvedev struggled to get rid of an unheralded qualifier in the first round and Tien would've known that if he was afforded the same opportunities that he wouldn't let them slip. He reached the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals at the end of last year defeating Joao Fonseca.
But unlike the Brazilian who lost to Lorenzo Sonego, he will be in the third round in Melbourne. Tien won the first two sets to stun Medvedev and put him on the brink of defeat in straight sets.
But Medvedev finally settled in and played closer to his level. He saved match points in the third set tie-break and through a rain delay, it went to a fifth set with the score at 5-5. On return, Tien lost his serve but broke straight back to force a tie-break.
It was back and forth but he turned it his direction by breaking for 7-7 and then winning four points on the bounce to seal the win. Next up in an open section which also saw Tiafoe crash out is Corentin Moutet. So it is Sonego v Marozsan and Tien v Moutet for a Last 16 spot.
Learner becomes the teacher 📖
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025
At 3:00am, 19-year-old qualifier Learner Tien stuns three-time finalist Medvedev!#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/OclYIIWOPr
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
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