Daniil Medvedev is out of the Australian Open, beaten by 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien in an epic five-setter that lasted nearly five hours and finished with the clock ticking close to 3am on Friday morning.
Three-time finalist Medvedev will leave Melbourne with more chapters added to his remarkable Australian Open history, having spent close to eight hours on court but his tournament ending in just the second round. Instead, Tien has become the youngest American man to reach the third round in Melbourne since Pete Sampras in 1990.
Learner Tien of the US celebrates after beating Daniil Medvedev.Credit: AP
Tien was victorious 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7 (8-10), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) to end a day at Melbourne Park which attracted the single biggest attendance in Open history – 95,881 patrons. Only a couple of thousand were still in the stands at Margaret Court Arena when the final point was won.
A number of them crowded around the tunnel to try and get a picture or autograph with Tien before he exited, he obliged many of them.
It was a compelling encounter that had a taste of everything. Learner soared to a two-sets-to-love advantage and had a match point during the third set tiebreaker. In typical dramatic style for Medvedev, however, the Russian saved that moment with an ace.
When he closed out the ’breaker 10-8 Medvedev carried all the momentum, soaring through the fourth set 6-1 in 26 minutes.
Californian Tien explained the drastic change in the match. “In the fourth set, I just had to pee so bad. I was trying to finish it up quick, and I wanted to start the fifth serving. I scrapped out that last game and it all worked out,” he said on court.
The deciding set was replete with twists and turns and, of all unlikely occurrences at 2.27am in the morning, a rain delay with forced the players courtside for a six-minute break as ballkids and staff quickly closed the roof and mopped up the court.
Tien was unrattled by the events, taking the match up to his experienced opponent as they headed to a match tiebreaker to settle the contest. When the world No.121 edged to a 9-7 advantage to secure two more match points, he only needed one and closed out the win.
“I have so much adrenaline right now, I have no idea,” Tien told reporters in the wee hours of Friday morning. “It will probably hit my like a tank tomorrow morning.”
Medvedev’s tournament, albeit brief as it was, will be remembered for his battle to get past little-known Thai opponent Kasidit Samrej in the first round, including a moment of frustration when he whacked a net camera multiple times, destroying his racquet. That offence could attract a fine of up to $80,000.
Last year’s runner-up also incurred a point penalty on Thursday night when he chucked his equipment toward the sideline, skidding it across the court until it reached an advertising panel near his bench. In another decisive moment, he voiced displeasure about being called for two consecutive foot-faults, resulting in a double-fault, during the second-set tiebreaker.
Medvedev also skipped his post-match media commitments early on Friday morning, a choice which will also attract a fine from tournament officials.
Daniil Medvedev.Credit: AP
But it was Tien’s grant moment as he became the third teenager to defeat a top 10 player so far in Melbourne.
“I was just trying to treat it like any other match,” Tien said.
“I think belief is a big thing in succeeding and winning in general. I always go on the court believing that there’s a chance I can win.
Learner Tien poses for photos with fans at 3am in the morning.Credit: AP
“I wasn’t trying to think of the match as anything more important than any other match I’ve ever played. I was just going to go out there, have fun, see what I could do.
“I played probably eight, nine hours in my last two matches combined.
“It’s definitely a confidence boost to know I can last in these matches, just because I haven’t had any five-set experience prior to this week.
“It is nice to feel that I can play these more physical matches and get through ’em.”
