Learner Tien keeps breaking new ground in Melbourne.
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One year after reaching the fourth round on his Australian Open main-draw debut as a qualifier, the 20-year-old delivered an emphatic performance on Sunday to dismantle 11th seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-0 6-3, advancing to his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal and a showdown with AO 2025 finalist Alexander Zverev.
With Sunday’s triumph, Tien is the youngest AO men’s quarterfinalist since Nick Kyrgios in 2015, and the youngest American to reach a maiden men’s singles Grand Slam quarterfinal since Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2001.
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He also joins Roddick, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton as the fourth American man since 2000 to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal before the age of 21.
“It feels amazing. It’s so special to do it, especially here, where it means so much to me to come back and play every year. This was a big goal for me, and I’m just super happy,” Tien said on court, as fans waving ‘L’ plates and American flags cheered at the top of their lungs.
“Every year since I've been coming here, the crowd support has been amazing. I don’t know why, honestly. It’s so special to come back and play in front of a crowd like this, with this much energy and support. It means the world to me to do it here.”
Medvedev entered the contest unbeaten in 2026, having already claimed a title in Brisbane. But Tien – who now holds a 3–1 record against Medvedev, including a five-set epic at Melbourne Park in 2025 — seized control with a striking level of confidence and belief.
The American broke serve in the first game of the match and, aside from a brief interruption caused by a nosebleed moments later, barely put a foot wrong.
Tien’s discipline from the baseline was decisive; he committed just 16 unforced errors to Medvedev’s 30, struck 18 more winners, and converted 70 per cent of his break-point opportunities against the three-time AO finalist.
He did it with a variety of playmaking, combining flat, powerful serves with sharp angles, while using high, heavy left-handed forehands to absorb Medvedev’s pace and move him around the court.
Patient through the rallies, Tien waited for openings before ripping clean winners, and mixed in soft, well-disguised drop shots that felt straight out of Carlos Alcaraz’s bag of tricks.
The 25th seed won 11 consecutive games from the end of the first set through to 4-0 in the third, including a 6-0 second set, the first time Medvedev has been bageled at a Grand Slam in 451 sets.
“I was trying to figure out what can I do to kind of disturb his level that he had at this moment,” Medvedev said.
“He played great, super-aggressive. Even when I was making good shots, he was making a better shot back.
“Didn't find many solutions today on the court, which is rare, and I didn't feel that many times in my life like this … He had, like, an unbelievable match where everything went in.”
The world No.29 has now won 14 of his past 17 matches, having claimed the Next Gen ATP Finals crown in late December.
Tien and Zverev met twice in 2025, with Tien winning 6-4 6-4 in Acapulco, and Zverev cruising to a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory in the first round of Roland Garros. Zverev is 37-1 in his past 38 matches against left-handers, Tien’s victory last year the German’s only defeat.
“It’s going to be a super tough match,” Tien said about Zverev, who advanced with a straight-sets victory over Francisco Cerundolo earlier on Sunday.
“I was able to get him the first time we played, but the second time we played he beat me pretty bad. He plays great tennis here, the defending finalist, it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m really looking forward to it.”