Teenage Sensation: Learner Tien breaks a 20-year Australian Open record after shocking Daniil Medvedev

Learner Tien achieved an unprecedented feat in the past 20 years following his stunning victory over Daniil Medvedev in the second round of the Australian Open. The 19-year-old showcased his best tennis, pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the early rounds with a thrilling 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6 [10-7] win.

Born in 2005, Tien is quickly making a name for himself on the Tour, joining a new wave of under-20 players already competing against the best. Names like Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, and Nishesh Basavareddy have also impressed in the tournament's early rounds.

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However, Tien achieved a rare milestone that had remained untouched for 20 years. He became the first qualifier to defeat a top-5 seed in the Australian Open main draw since 2005. Back then, 5th seed Carlos Moya was upset by Guillermo García López, a Spaniard ranked No. 106 at the time, who later peaked at World No. 23.

The 19-year-old also became the youngest American to reach the third round of the Australian Open since Pete Sampras in 1990, when Sampras advanced to the fourth round before losing to 12th seed Yannick Noah.

Tien's victory guarantees a rise of at least 24 positions from his current ranking of World No. 121, ensuring he breaks into the top 100 for the first time in his career, finishing the tournament at no worse than World No. 97. Next, he faces the talented Frenchman Corentin Moutet (World No. 69), who upset 25th seed Alexei Popyrin in the first round. If Tien wins, he will secure a spot inside the top 80, marking a meteoric rise for the American teenager.

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