MELBOURNE, Australia — In a remarkable showcase of talent and determination, 19-year-old Tien, a qualifier from California, achieved a significant milestone at the Australian Open by becoming the youngest American male to advance to the tournament’s third round since Pete Sampras in 1990. Tien delivered an impressive performance, defeating Daniil Medvedev, who had a reputation for his dramatic on-court demeanor, with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7). The gripping match commenced on Thursday night and extended into the early hours of Friday morning, lasting almost five hours.
The thrilling encounter spanned 4 hours and 49 minutes and included a surprising six-minute rain delay that paused the match just after 2:30 a.m., with Tien serving at 5-all, 15-all in the deciding set. Upon resuming play, Medvedev broke Tien to serve for the win at 6-5; however, Tien responded vigorously, breaking back and forcing a tiebreaker to 10 points, which he won around 3 a.m., just two hours after missing his first match point.
Following the victory, Tien expressed his mindset heading into the match, emphasizing the importance of belief in achieving success. “I always step on the court with the belief that I can win,” Tien stated. Showcasing a light-hearted side, he arrived at the press conference with a box containing a pepperoni pizza. Reflecting on the match’s outcome, he said, “It was either going to be celebratory or a binge-y, like, cope, and thankfully it’s more celebratory.”
This unexpected win highlighted the disparity in experience between Tien and the seasoned Medvedev. Tien, currently ranked 121st and with a career Grand Slam record of 0-3 before this match, faced the fifth-seeded Medvedev, a past U.S. Open champion who reached the Melbourne Park finals three times in the previous four years, including last year. After the match, Tien acknowledged the challenge he faced. “It definitely was harder than it should have been, but whatever,” he said, thanking the late-night crowd for their support.
Due to the time difference, the match concluded at about 8 a.m. back in California, prompting Tien to address his family through the microphone, hoping they were watching from home. “I don’t know if my parents are still watching… I love you guys. Thank you for always supporting me from across the world,” said Tien, who expressed his longing for their presence at the event.
Throughout the match, Tien played aggressively, often exploiting longer rallies against Medvedev. He claimed 32 out of 51 points that lasted nine strokes or more within the first two sets, showcasing remarkable endurance, including winning a 45-shot rally and a 32-shot exchange. However, he faced a setback in the third-set tiebreaker when he was a single point away from victory. Medvedev, with a powerful ace at 122 mph, managed to recover and ultimately won the set, converting his third set point shortly after 1 a.m.
Medvedev’s frustration was evident as he encountered several issues during the match, including being penalized a point for his outbursts. The 28-year-old Russian displayed his agitation in various ways, such as hurling equipment in frustration and expressing his annoyance at foot-fault calls that led to double faults in crucial moments of the match.
This marked Medvedev’s first tournament of the 2023 season, following the birth of his second child, but he struggled to find his best form. Meanwhile, Tien’s path to this moment was paved by a successful junior career, with two Grand Slam singles finals in 2023 at the Australian Open and U.S. Open, along with a brief stint in college tennis at Southern California before turning professional.
Achieving this milestone, Tien is now positioned alongside 1990 Sampras as the youngest American man to reach this stage at the Australian Open. His historic performance comes in a year that has witnessed significant achievements by teenagers, with Tien joining two other young athletes who qualified for the men’s bracket at a major since Wimbledon 2017. Tien recognized the inspiration that the success of his peers provides, noting, “What they did is definitely pretty inspiring.”
