American teenager Learner Tien makes history at the Australian Open by defeating last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set match.
Australian Open Upsets: Learner Tien Stuns Daniil Medvedev
American teenager Learner Tien has made history at the Australian Open by defeating last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set match that lasted nearly four hours and 49 minutes.
The 19-year-old, making his first appearance in the second round of a grand slam, came from behind to claim the biggest win of his fledgling career. Tien had an opportunity to close out the victory with a match point in the third set before Medvedev launched an impressive comeback. However, Tien secured a break of serve early in the decider and took a 3-1 lead.
Medvedev broke back immediately, but a 10-point tiebreak was ultimately needed to separate the two players. Trailing 6-4, Tien showed remarkable composure and character to win six of the last seven points, securing the victory in four hours and 49 minutes.
Danielle Collins’ Pantomime Villain Act
Meanwhile, American Danielle Collins has been making headlines for her pantomime villain act at the Australian Open. The No. 10 seed took down home favorite Destanee Aiava 7-6, 4-6, 6-2 in front of a raucous crowd.
Collins was booed and jeered throughout the match but responded by cupping her ear and blowing kisses towards the crowd after securing the victory. She continued to egg on the crowd during her on-court interview, joking that she would use the money from her win to fund her next five-star vacation.
Tien’s Historic Win
Learner Tien’s historic win marks his first grand slam victory against an opponent ranked inside the top five. He becomes the youngest American to reach the third round of the Australian Open since Pete Sampras 35 years ago.
The Irvine, California, native will face unseeded Frenchman Corentin Moutet on Saturday in Melbourne. Tien had previously needed five sets to defeat Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the first round and will be hoping for a shorter match against Moutet.
Collins’ Boisterous Atmosphere
The boisterous atmosphere at the Australian Open has been a highlight of the tournament so far, with many fans getting into the spirit. Collins said that there were “a lot of people that were super drunk” which added to the energy in the stands.
She joked that she would use the money from her win to fund her next five-star vacation and even posted about it on social media. Collins will face compatriot and No. 19 seed Madison Keys in the third round on Saturday.
Medvedev’s Early Exit
Daniil Medvedev has been knocked out of the Australian Open after back-to-back five-set matches. He was defeated by Tien in a thrilling match that lasted nearly four hours and 49 minutes.
The fifth-seeded Russian had finished runner-up at three of the last four tournaments but struggled to overcome Tien’s determination and composure.
