Teenager Learner Tien defeats Daniil Medvedev in instant classic at Australian Open

Daniil Medvedev cannot stop playing five-set matches at the Australian Open. Facing 19-year-old Learner Tien in the second round, the Russian was also playing in his fifth straight five-setter in Melbourne dating back to 2024. He had lost only one, but Tien was not going to let Medvedev off easy in the fifth set.

To be sure, both players were playing at a high level in a match that kept switching bouts of momentum between the two. Tien took the first two sets, Medvedev took the next two, including a 6-1 domination in the fourth set, and the Russian held a break late in the fifth. Still, Tien would not let go.

Down 4-5 in the fifth and Medvedev serving, Tien played likely his best game of the match and took it convincingly to set up a 10-point tie-break. The advantage still appeared to lie with Medvedev, though, based on his overwhelming experience compared to the American, who had only played 12 ATP-level matches in his career.

American teenager Learner Tien overcomes Daniil Medvedev at the 2025 Australian Open

Neither player at the one consistent knock-out shot to put the other away. Both also moved well enough to keep themselves in points and games that they had no business being in. Tien also never seemed to lack confidence that he could play with the Russian.

Medvedev has been a staple in the top five of men's tennis for a reason, though. He tends to outthink his opponents and plays better on the bigger points than most others. He does not have the pure ability of Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz, but he can make adjustments from point to point. As it turns out, at least in the 2025 Australian Open, so can Tien.

Down 4-6 in the tie-break and with Medvedev serving, the American teenager somehow found a way to hit a drop-shot winner from neat the baseline. It was a gutsy shot, but not one that appeared to be lucky. Tien was in full control of what he was doing.

Even in the tie-break, neither player could put away the other. Medvedev would get a mini-break and Tien would get the next break. It was phenomenal tennis by both. Shockingly, though, it was Tien winning the biggest match of his career and took the fifth-set tie-break 10-7. He will next face Corentin Moutet and there is no reason to think the teenager won't win that one as well.

More tennis news and analysis: