Nineteen-year-old Learner Tien, a qualifier from California, just pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the Australian Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set match.
The 4-hour, 49-minute marathon contest began Thursday night and concluded early Friday morning on Margaret Court Arena.
A Historic Win for Tien
This victory made Tien the youngest American man to reach the Australian Open’s third round since Pete Sampras in 1990.
And for Tien, who is ranked 121st in the world, it was a career-defining moment. Medvedev, the No. 5 seed and one of the Quick Report’s highest-paid tennis players in the world, struggled to match the teenager’s fearless play.
A Battle for the Ages
The match had everything — intense rallies, dramatic momentum shifts, and even a late-night rain delay. At 2:30 a.m., with Tien serving at 5-all in the final set, a six-minute interruption added another twist.
When play resumed, Medvedev broke serve and seemed poised for victory. But Tien refused to give in, breaking back and forcing a decisive tiebreaker.
The teenager held his nerve in the final moments, clinching the win shortly before 3 a.m.
“I was definitely hoping it wouldn’t go to a fifth-set ‘breaker,” Tien said on the court afterward according to ESPN, thanking the crowd for staying so late.
Medvedev’s Frustration Shows
For Medvedev, this was a tournament to forget. The 28-year-old Russian, who was runner-up in Melbourne three of the last four years, never found his best form. His frustrations boiled over, with racket tosses, complaints about foot-fault calls, and even a point penalty in the third set.
Tien, meanwhile, stayed focused and played with remarkable composure. He outlasted Medvedev in long rallies, winning key points in the first two sets. Even after Medvedev pushed the match to a fifth set, Tien’s fearless attitude carried him through.
A Star in the Making
This victory is the latest milestone for Tien, who turned pro in 2023 after a standout junior career. Last year, he reached the finals of two junior Grand Slams and played a semester of college tennis at USC. Now, he’s making history on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
Tien also joined a group of teens making waves at this year’s Australian Open. Alongside other young standouts like Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, he’s proving that the next generation of tennis stars is ready to shine.
With this win, Tien not only announced himself to the tennis world but also gave fans a night to remember.
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