Learner Tien produced one of the shocks of the tournament as he booked his place in the third round.
The Australian Open is well underway, and the tournament has not disappointed one bit as the second round comes to a close.
Jakub Mensik’s win over Casper Ruud looked to be the shock of the second round, as the 19-year-old dumped out the sixth seed on Wednesday.
However, an even bigger name fell on Thursday, as Learner Tien beat Daniil Medvedev in a five-set classic on Margaret Court Arena.
Tien’s win was the third by a teenager against top-ten opposition at this year’s Australian Open, following Mensik, and Joao Fonseca’s wins earlier in the week.
The 19-year-old’s victory has seen him secure his place in the last 32 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, and in doing so, became the youngest American to qualify for the third round in Australia since a true ATP Tour legend 35 years ago.
Learner Tien becomes youngest American to reach Australian Open third round since Pete Sampras
After his sensational win over Medvedev, Tien was asked if he knew that he had just become the youngest American to reach the third round in Australia since Pete Sampras in 1990.
“I mean, I didn’t know that about the age thing actually, that’s nice to know,” he said.
“I think coming into my match today, I was just trying to treat it like any other match I ever played.
“Not putting too much importance on just this match today, feeling like this is the biggest match of my life or anything like that.”
Having advanced through three qualifying rounds, Tien beat Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli, in five sets to advance to the second round.
Tien spoke after the match about how he is now feeling physically, having played back-to-back five setters.
“I don’t think I’ve played a match that long ever, or even spent that much time on a tennis court straight,” he said.
“Yeah, I mean, these are my first two five-setters, I played probably eight, nine hours in my last two matches combined.
“It’s definitely a confidence boost to know I can last in these matches, just because I haven’t had any five-set experience prior to this week.
“I have so much adrenaline right now, I have no idea, it will probably hit me like a tank tomorrow morning.”
The American world number 121 failed to convert a match point against Medvedev in the third set and now explains how he managed to put that disappointment behind him.
“It wasn’t super difficult,” he said.
“I mean, I didn’t even touch a ball on that match point, it wasn’t like I had a huge opportunity.
“To lose in a long breaker after saving a set point, then having my own match point, was a little tough.
“Honestly, I was just telling myself if going into the match, if I could start two sets to one, I’d be thrilled, it wasn’t a bad position to be in.”
Tien went on to lose the fourth set 6-1, before battling back to secure his place in the next round in a fifth set tiebreaker.
Pete Sampras reached the fourth round of the 1990 Australian Open at 18 years old
Tien’s run to the third round in Melbourne has seen him match Sampras’ feat from 1990 when he burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old.
The American was unseeded in 1990 and coincidentally advanced through his first two matches in five sets, just like Tien has now done 35 years later.
- 1R – Pete Sampras beat Timothy Mayotte, 7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 7-5, 12-10
- 2R – Pete Sampras beat Jordi Aresse, 0-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
Tien will no doubt hope that the similarities don’t stop there, as Sampras went on to win his third-round match in Australia in straight sets, as he beat Todd Woodbridge, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.
It was there that the journey ended for Sampras, as he fell to Frenchman Yannick Noah in four sets.
He did, however, pick up a first Major title later that same year, beating Andre Agassi in September’s US Open final.
It remains to be seen if Tien can achieve Grand Slam success during his career, but he’ll first focus on reaching the fourth round in Melbourne, as he takes on Corentin Moutet on Saturday, January 18.
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