Teen Qualifier Tien Stuns Medvedev in Epic Australian Open Upset

MELBOURNE, Australia — In a stunning late-night showdown, 19-year-old American qualifier Learner Tien pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2025 Australian Open, defeating fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) in a grueling 4-hour, 49-minute match that ended early Friday morning.

Tien, ranked 121st in the world, became the youngest American man to reach the Australian Open’s third round since Pete Sampras in 1990. The match, which began Thursday night and concluded around 3 a.m. local time, featured dramatic momentum swings, a rain delay, and a first-to-10-point tiebreaker in the deciding set.

“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,” Tien said during a post-match press conference, where he celebrated with a pepperoni pizza. “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.”

The victory marked Tien’s first career Grand Slam win, as he entered the tournament with an 0-3 record in majors. Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion and a three-time Australian Open finalist, struggled to find his rhythm, showing visible frustration throughout the match. He was penalized a point in the third set after smashing his racket and later tossed it across the court following a missed opportunity.

Tien’s fearless play and ability to win long rallies were key to his success. He won 32 of 51 points that lasted nine or more strokes in the first two sets, including a 45-shot rally. Despite failing to convert a match point in the third set, Tien held his nerve in the decisive tiebreaker, clinching the victory with a forehand winner.

The match was the latest in a series of impressive performances by teenagers at this year’s Australian Open. Tien joined Joao Fonseca of Brazil and Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic as the first trio of teenagers to qualify and reach the men’s main draw at a major since Wimbledon in 2017. Fonseca and Mensik also scored upset victories over top-10 seeds earlier in the tournament.

Tien’s next challenge will be against France‘s Corentin Moutet in the third round. Meanwhile, Medvedev’s early exit adds to a disappointing start to the season for the Russian, who was playing his first tournament since the birth of his second child.

“I really appreciate all you guys staying out here. I know it’s late. I have no idea what time it is,” Tien told the crowd after the match. He also took a moment to thank his family watching from California, saying, “I love you guys. Thank you for always supporting me from across the world.”