Match ReportTien leads fifth seed 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8) in Australian Open second round
January 16, 2025
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Learner Tien reached the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF last month. By ATP Staff
Learner Tien is one set away from reaching the third round at the Australian Open. The American qualifier leads fifth seed and three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8) in the early hours of Friday morning in Melbourne.
Tien, No. 121 in the PIF ATP Rankings, rallied from a break down in each set to spark hopes of a major upset, before facing a fightback from Medvedev. The 19-year-old is bidding to become the second-youngest American man to reach the third round at the Australian Open after 18-year-old Pete Sampras in 1990.
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Tien’s consistent, methodical approach has often drawn parallels with that of Medvedev, but the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF finalist took the initiative in much of the longer rallies to move ahead in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Medvedev came unstuck by his own serve in the opening two sets, in which he won just 19 per cent (6/32) points behind his second delivery, according to Infosys Stats.
Medvedev let slip a break lead once more in the third set, but recovered in a tie-break, where he saved a match point to spark hopes of a comeback. The 28-year-old has prevailed in four contests from two sets down in his career, including against Alexander Zverev in last year’s Australian Open semi-final.
