In an astonishing turn of events at the Australian Open, 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien triumphed over No. 5-ranked Daniil Medvedev, a three-time finalist at the tournament, in a gripping five-set match. Tien secured the victory with scores of 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (7), marking the most significant achievement in his burgeoning career.
Despite taking a two-set lead, Tien faced a fierce comeback from Medvedev, who fought back to level the match and push it into a fifth set. However, Tien displayed remarkable composure, clinching match point after a return from Medvedev went wide. The final points of the match were played just before 3 a.m. in Melbourne, in a thrilling battle that lasted nearly five hours.
“I’m just really happy to get a win. I know I made it a lot harder than maybe it could have been, but whatever,” Tien remarked during his on-court interview, showcasing his upbeat spirit despite the match’s intensity.
With this victory, Tien has etched his name in Australian Open history, becoming the second-youngest American man to reach the third round, following the legendary Pete Sampras, who achieved this feat at 18 years old in 1990.
Originally from Irvine, California, Tien has had considerable success in junior tennis, winning the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships in both 2022 and 2023. This success granted him wild-card entries into the US Open at 16 and 17 years old. Tien also performed well in junior finals at the 2023 Australian Open and US Open and spent a semester at Southern California’s collegiate tennis team before choosing to turn professional. His 28-match winning streak from May to July demonstrates his competitive spirit and potential.
Before this match, Tien had not won in three previous Grand Slam appearances and was ranked 121st. He began his Australian Open journey by defeating Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the first round. Next, he will face Corentin Moutet in a highly anticipated third-round matchup.
This thrilling success not only marks a potential turning point in Tien’s career but also highlights the bright future of American tennis as new talents emerge on the global stage.