MELBOURNE, Australia — In a remarkable achievement, 19-year-old Tien, a qualifier from California, has made history by becoming the youngest American man to advance to the third round of the Australian Open since Pete Sampras achieved the same feat in 1990. Tien pulled off a thrilling upset against Daniil Medvedev, winning a grueling match that stretched nearly five hours and concluded with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in the early hours of Friday morning.
The match, which lasted 4 hours and 49 minutes, was filled with unexpected turns, including a six-minute rain delay that occurred just before 2:30 a.m. when Tien was serving at 5-all, 15-all in the final set. After resuming play, Medvedev managed to break Tien and served for the match at 6-5, but Tien exhibited incredible resilience by breaking back. He then pushed the match to a decisive tiebreaker, ultimately winning it just before 3 a.m., two hours after he had missed his first match point.
The outcome was particularly shocking given the contrasting backgrounds of the two competitors. Ranked 121st globally, Tien entered the tournament with a Grand Slam record of 0-3; in contrast, Medvedev, seeded No. 5, is a former U.S. Open champion and has been a finalist at the Australian Open three times in the last four years. Tien reflected on his victory, expressing gratitude to the audience who stayed until the early hours to support him, saying, “I was definitely hoping it wouldn’t go to a fifth-set ‘breaker’… I really appreciate all you guys staying out here.”
The match concluded around 8 a.m. Thursday morning back in California, and Tien took a moment to speak directly to his family, expressing his hopes that they were watching. “I don’t know if my parents are still watching… I love you guys. Thank you for always supporting me from across the world,” he said. “I wish you could be here, too.”
Displaying remarkable poise, Tien played with confidence, winning an impressive number of points in lengthy rallies during the first two sets. He claimed 32 of the 51 points that went for nine shots or more, dominating exchanges that included a breathtaking rally lasting 45 shots.
However, Tien faced a crucial moment when he held a match point in the third-set tiebreaker at 7-6. Medvedev responded with a powerful ace at 122 mph (196 kph) and eventually took the set, leading to a fifth. Medvedev’s temperament was visibly tested throughout, as he showed signs of frustration and even received a penalty point during the match, a reaction echoing his behavior from a tough first-round win against a lesser-ranked player.
As the match progressed, Medvedev attempted to alter his strategy by advancing to the net more frequently early in the third set. After taking a 4-3 lead, thanks to some errors from Tien, Medvedev found himself trailing once again after Tien broke back. This marked Medvedev’s first tournament of the season following the birth of his second child; however, he struggled to deliver his best performance.
Chris Tien’s journey to this stage included two junior Grand Slam singles finals in 2023, at both the Australian and U.S. Opens. After playing a semester at Southern California, he turned professional. Having just celebrated his 19th birthday last month, Tien is now the youngest American to reach this round of the Australian Open since the legendary Sampras did so at the age of 18.
This match adds to the growing narrative of young talent making waves at the Australian Open, as Tien joins other teenagers who have qualified for the men’s bracket in recent years. With Tien’s success, he becomes part of a surprising class of young players achieving significant victories at this prestigious tournament.
