How Learner Tien pulled off 'astonishing' Daniil Medvedev upset win at 3am - 'Called Learner but played like a master'
Published 16/01/2025 at 17:53 GMT
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Three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev is out of the 2025 Australian Open after a five-defeat to qualifier Learner Tien. The match finished at 2:55am local time with Tien breaking back when Medvedev had the chance to serve for the match. Tien said afterwards that he "just had to pee so bad" in the fourth set, while Eurosport's Jo Durie called the display "astonishing".
'Astonishing' - Tien shocks Medvedev in epic upset at 2.55am
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He may be called Learner, but he played like a master."
Qualifier Learner Tien, ranked at No. 121 in the world, pulled off the upset of the 2025 Australian Open so far as he stunned three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev in a five-set epic that finished at 2:55am local time.
A gripping match swung back and forth, and featured countless lengthy rallies, as Medvedev fought back from two sets down, saving a match point in the third, to force a decider.
Tien’s efforts looked as though they would be in vain when he was broken at 5-5 in the deciding set, after play had been suspended briefly at 2:30am for ball kids to towel the court dry following a rain shower.
But Tien incredibly broke straight back as Medvedev served for the match.
The final 10-point tie-break featured more momentum swings with Medvedev again looking in the ascendency at 6-4 up, only for Tien to fight back.
From 7-6 down, the qualifier reeled off four points in a row and raised his arms aloft in celebration after clinching a 6-3 7-6(4) 6-7(8) 1-6 7-6(7) victory when Medvedev went long with a backhand.
The match finished at 2:55am, lasting four hours and 49 minutes, and Tien’s next challenge is a meeting with unseeded Corentin Moutet in the third round.
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'In the fourth set I had to pee so bad!' - Tien reacts to epic Medvedev win
Video credit: TNT Sports
‘absolutely astonishing’
Medvedev was surprisingly pushed the distance in his opening match in Melbourne against world No. 418 Kasidit Samrej, joking afterwards: "I know that I play better when I play more tennis."
Again he found himself in a hole against Tien, losing the first two sets to ensure he would need to spend another significant chunk of time on court if he wanted to prevail.
Just as in his first-round match, when he smashed a net camera, Medvedev vented his frustration, whacking balls, tossing his racquet, and kicking over a camera at the back of the court.
It looked like he might escape with another win, but Tien never gave up even as the match looked to be getting away from him after losing the third set in a tight tie-breaker.
With Medvedev looking passive at times in numerous gruelling rallies, Tien let his forehand rip and finished with 53 winners as he pulled off a remarkable win.
"Astonishing. Absolutely astonishing," said Eurosport co-commentator Jo Durie.
"To get through that at the age of 19. What fabulous tennis at the end, I am nearly speechless. I can’t believe it."
Commentator Simon Reed added: "He may be called Learner, but he played like a master.
"A new star, Learner Tien, what a talent, what a character and what guts he showed. He has taken out the three-time finalist."
Medvedev has been runner-up at the Australian Open in three of the last five years, losing to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Jannik Sinner in the finals.
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'How did he pull that off?!' - Medvedev wows with incredible winner at key moment
Video credit: TNT Sports
'In fourth set I had to pee so bad'
Tien is competing in his first Grand Slam main draw outside of the US Open.
Last year he played only five ATP Tour matches but won three of them. He also won three ATP Challenger titles and made another final.
He finished the season by reaching the final of the Next Gen Finals, losing to 18-year-old Joao Fonseca, who has also made waves at the Australian Open.
After coming through qualifying for the Australian Open, Tien needed five sets to beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the first round.
His chances of upsetting Medvedev looked to be shrinking after losing the third set and then seeing the fourth slip away quickly.
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Medvedev 'right back in it' after taking third set against Tien
Video credit: TNT Sports
But speaking afterwards he revealed he had other things on his mind in the fourth set.
"I was definitely hoping it wouldn't go to a fifth-set breaker, but I'm just happy to get a win," said Tien.
"I know I made it a lot harder than maybe it could have been... Losing the third was tough after playing for that long and having a match point.
"So it was a little disappointing to see a fourth [set] after fighting back from a break down in the third.
"Honestly in the fourth set I just had to pee so bad, so I was trying to finish it up fairly quick. But I also wanted to start the fifth serving, so I scrapped that game at 0-5, and it all worked out."
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Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+
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