Learner Tien upsets Daniil Medvedev again at Australian Open in straight-set win
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MELBOURNE – Learner Tien battled through a nosebleed to thrash three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open on Jan 25 and make a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time.
The 20-year-old American, who capped a breakout 2025 by winning the ATP Next Gen title, crushed the Russian 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 in just 1hr 42min on Margaret Court Arena.
It put 25th seed Tien into a last-eight clash with third-seeded Alexander Zverev.
He is the youngest men’s singles quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park since Nick Kyrgios in 2015 and the youngest American man to reach the last eight at a Slam since Andy Roddick in 2002 at the US Open.
“It feels amazing. I mean, so special to do it, especially here,” Tien, who won his first career title in Metz in November, said of making his maiden quarter-final.
“It’s always so special for me to come back and play here.
“Every year since I’ve been coming here, the crowd support has been amazing. I don’t know why, honestly, a crowd like this with this much energy and support, it means the world to me to do it here.”
Defeat was a sorry end for former world No. 1 Medvedev, who was also knocked out in 2025 by then-teenage qualifier Tien, in a five-set marathon.
This time, the 11th seed, who reached three of the last five finals in Melbourne, was a shadow of his former self.
Tien broke immediately to signal his intent, but his momentum was interrupted when he needed treatment for a nosebleed.
They resumed after a seven-minute break, with Tien taking the set.
After that, it was all the American, who reeled off 10 straight games as Medvedev imploded, cutting a dejected figure.
He suddenly woke up and, against the run of play, won three games to give himself a glimmer of hope, before Tien seized back control and sprinted to the finish.
Medvedev was outplayed by Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final before a heart-wrenching defeat by Rafael Nadal a year later.
He lost to Jannik Sinner in 2024, crashing in five sets after being two up.
Next up for Tien, meanwhile, is another Melbourne Park finalist, world No. 3 Zverev, who was runner-up in 2025.
The German demolished Argentina’s 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.
Asked if he was playing as well as he ever has, he replied: “I don’t want to jinx it, so I will keep my mouth shut on that question.”
Carlos Alcaraz also powered into the quarter-finals on Jan 25 and Novak Djokovic joined him without hitting a ball.
Top seed Alcaraz was in ominous touch at Rod Laver Arena, dismissing the American Tommy Paul
“I guess the way that I would describe it is, he suffocates you in a way,” Paul said of Alcaraz. “He makes you feel like you have no time.”
The 22-year-old plays home hope and sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who defeated 10th seed Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.
Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam crown, was scheduled to face Jakub Mensik in the last 16 on Jan 26 but the Czech pulled out injured.
Djokovic will meet American ninth seed Taylor Fritz or the fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy for a place in the semi-finals.
Alcaraz, who has yet to drop a set this tournament, has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
If he can finally break his Australian Open duck, he will become the youngest man in history to win a career Grand Slam of all four Majors. AFP
