In a stunning turn of events at the Australian Open, American qualifier Learner Tien triumphed over three-time Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a late-night epic. The match, which spanned nearly five hours and concluded close to 3 a.m., saw Tien emerge victorious with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6(7).
Tien, a 19-year-old lefthander born in California to Vietnamese parents, faced significant challenges as Medvedev battled back from two sets down. The Russian star saved a match point in the third set with an ace, pushing the contest to a decider at Margaret Court Arena.
Despite the odds, Tien tapped into his reserves of energy, showcasing dazzling tennis that left the crowd in awe. His victory marks the biggest shock of the Melbourne tournament and makes him the youngest American man to reach the third round at the Australian Open since Pete Sampras at 18 in 1990.
\"I mean, I was definitely hoping it wasn't going to go to a fifth set breaker,\" Tien told the crowd after his hard-fought win. \"Either way, I was just really happy to get a win. I know I made it a lot harder than maybe it could have been. But you know, whatever.\"
Tien had previously lost in the opening round of his first three Grand Slam appearances but made a strong Australian Open debut by defeating Camilo Ugo Carabelli in five sets before facing Medvedev.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Tien taking the opening set and showcasing incredible tactical awareness. Despite moments where it seemed Medvedev would overpower him, especially in the fourth set, Tien's resilience shone through in the final tiebreaker, where he clinched the win by securing six of the last seven points.
This remarkable performance not only advances Tien to the third round but also sets the stage for his continued rise in the tennis world.
Reference(s):
Qualifier Learner Tien stuns Daniil Medvedev in late night epic
cgtn.com
