2025 was an unkind year for Daniil Medvedev. The former ATP No. 1 couldn't make it past the second round at any Grand Slam event, and didn't make it past the first round of the final three. Some might have logically doubted whether the Russian wanted to keep playing.
He had been too successful and was too skilled to lose so early in majors. The issue must have been how motivated he was. Then again, he never stopped fighting in any of his matches.
He often got down two sets, only to come back and win the next two at majors, to eventually fail in the fifth set. It happened at every major except Wimbledon. His problem moving forward at the Australian Open this year is that he might be feeling some strong deja vu from 2025.
Daniil Medvedev makes a valid confession ahead of playing Learner Tien again at the Australian Open
Last year, Medvedev reached the second round in Melbourne, where he played American teenager Learner Tien. In five sets, Tien stunned the Russian. This year, Medvedev barely made it past the third round, where he defeated Fabian Marozsan in five sets. Next up for the Russian is, of course, Tien.
Medvedev learned of the rematch while playing against Marozsan and looking at the scoreboard. The issue with the matchup isn't simply that he lost to Tien in 2025. The problem is that every match against the American so far has been a slugfest.
The two players have met three times, with Tien winning the first two matches. All three matches have gone to a decisive set. Medvedev and Tien have played a total of 11 sets against one another, and five of those sets have gone to a tie-break. Two others have finished 7-5.
In other words, those tuning in to watch Daniil Medvedev play Learner Tien in the fourth round should expect a long match with long rallies. One should clear their schedule for the day and enjoy some high-level and high-stress tennis. Even Medvedev admitted to that while speaking to the media after winning his third-round match.
"The thing is that I kind of don’t like to play him," the Russian said, "but he must hate to play me as well because, I mean, all our matches, I was serving for the match or something. It’s long, brutal rallies, etc. I’m going to enjoy it because it’s going to be a lot of shot making, a lot of good defenses from both of us, some passing shots, etc. So, I’m going to try to enjoy the game of tennis and, of course, try to do my best to maybe surprise him somewhere."
Fans will enjoy the game of tennis, most likely, too. Daniil Medvedev has made the final of the Australian Open three times, so he knows he can make a deep run. Learner Tien is just beginning his ascension into a very good player. The match should be fun.