In a huge shock in Melbourne, 19-year-old qualifier Learner Tien defeated last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev in the second round of the Australian Open at little after three in the morning on Friday.
The 121-ranked American upset the world number five in a thrilling match at his first Australian Open, defeating him 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (8/10), 1-6, 7-6 (10/7) and going on to face Corentin Moutet of France.
After four hours and 48 minutes of seesawing action, the left-handed Californian Tien soaked up the cheers at Margaret Court Arena after his biggest victory to date.
“It hasn’t set in yet,” he admitted.
“I’m simply relieved to get off the court. Never in my life have I played a match for so long or even stood on a tennis court for so long. I’m just happy to be off, to be honest. I’m delighted, but I don’t think I’ve experienced it completely yet.”
Tien had won his first Grand Slam title on his fourth try after defeating Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina in five sets in the opening round.
“These are my first two five-setters,” declared the talented teenager, who is well-known in the tennis community.
“I am relieved that I can play and win these more physically demanding matches.”
Russia’s former world number one, Medvedev, had to endure a sad exit. He has lost three of the previous four finals at Melbourne Park, including against Jannik Sinner in 2024.
In his opening match of the season, the 28-year-old Medvedev defeated the 418th-ranked Kasidit Samrej in five sets on Tuesday. At one point, he acted furiously and smashed his racquet and a net camera.
He began his match with greater composure than Tien, but mistakes began to creep into his play, and Tien quickly overcame his initial nervousness to win the first set in 47 minutes.
In the eighth game, Tien prevailed in a tiring 32-shot rally, demonstrating his strength and experience.
After a second-set tiebreak between the 2021 US Open champion Medvedev and Tien, the Russian was frustrated by a double-foot error that cost him the set.
The third set proceeded to a tiebreak once more, and Medvedev saved the match point with an ace under tremendous duress before winning the set on his third attempt to rally from the edge.
All of a sudden, Medvedev was dominant, sweeping through the fourth set to set up a final.
Tien seemed to have lost his temper.
However, he found some additional energy somewhere, and early in the fifth set, the two traded breaks.
When a shower arrived, it momentarily halted play, but there was still time for another twist at 5-5 and 15-all on Tien’s serve.
After exchanging serve breaks, they entered a 10-point tiebreak, where nothing changed until Tien’s second match point sealed the victory.
