Australian Open 2025 results: Teenager Learner Tien stuns Daniil Medvedev in late five-set thriller
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev has withdrawn from the Australian Open after losing to teenager Learner Tien in five thrilling sets in the tournament’s biggest upset to date.
Medvedev, a three-time Melbourne final, saved match point in the third set and forced a decider, but ultimately lost 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (8-10) 1-6 7 – 6 (10-7) Defeated by 19-year-old qualifier.
American Tien, ranked 121st in the world, celebrated in front of an almost empty Margaret Court Arena after winning at 02:54 local time in Melbourne.
“I certainly hope the match doesn’t go into the fifth set, but no matter what, I’m really happy to win,” Tian said after playing four hours and 49 minutes on the court.
“I know I made it a lot harder than it should have been, but, you know, whatever.”
Tian had never won a Grand Slam match before this week’s match, having lost in the first round in all three of his U.S. Open matches.
Medvedev, who lost to Janik Sinner in last year’s final, stormed through the fourth set in 27 minutes and looked the clear favorite to win the match, with Tenn looking tired.
But after a brief rain delay, the left-handed Californian fought back in the deciding set to push the tiebreak to 10 points.
“It was tough to lose the third set after playing for so long. I had a match point, so it was a little disappointing to see the fourth set,” Tian said.
“In the fourth set I just really wanted to pee so I was trying to get it done as quickly as possible.
“I also wanted to serve first in the fifth (set), so I eliminated that match 0-5 and it all worked out.”
He is the third teenager to beat a top-10 player this week, following Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mencic.
Fonseca grabs the winner in the first round Defeat ninth seed Andrei RublevBut of the two in Melbourne, Tian finished runner-up to the Brazilian at the Next Generation ATP Finals in December.
In the third round, Tian Junjie will face French player Corentin Moutet, ranked 69th.
