Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev is out of the Australian Open after shedding a five-set thriller to teenager Learner Tien within the greatest upset of the event to this point.
Medvedev, a three-time finalist in Melbourne, saved match level within the third set and compelled a decider, however finally fell to a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (8-10) 1-6 7-6 (10-7) defeat by the 19-year-old qualifier.
American Tien, ranked 121st on the earth, celebrated in entrance of a largely empty Margaret Court docket Enviornment after wrapping up the win at 02:54 native time in Melbourne.
“I used to be undoubtedly hoping it wasn’t going to a fifth-set breaker however both manner I am simply actually pleased to get the win,” Tien stated after 4 hours and 49 minutes on court docket.
“I do know I made it lots tougher than what it may have been however, you recognize, no matter.”
Earlier than this week’s event Tien had by no means received a Grand Slam match, shedding within the first spherical in all three of his US Open appearances.
Medvedev, who misplaced to Jannik Sinner in final yr’s remaining, appeared just like the clear favorite to win the match after steamrolling his manner via the fourth set in 27 minutes, with Tien wanting fatigued.
However, after a short rain delay, the left-handed Californian dug deep to interrupt again within the decider and power a 10-point tie-break.
“Dropping the third [set] was powerful after taking part in for that lengthy. I had a match level in order that was just a little disappointing to see a fourth [set],” Tien stated.
“Within the fourth set I simply needed to pee so unhealthy, so I used to be making an attempt to complete it up pretty fast.
“I additionally needed to start out the fifth [set] serving first so I scrapped out that recreation at 0-5 and all of it labored out.”
He’s the third teenager this week, after Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, to have crushed a top-10 participant.
Fonseca stole the headlines along with his first-round win over ninth seed Andrey Rublev, however it’s Tien, who completed runner-up to the Brazilian in December’s Subsequent Gen ATP Finals, that has gone additional of the 2 in Melbourne.
Tien will face France’s Corentin Moutet, ranked 69th, within the third spherical.