Alexander Zverev’s recent mastery of left-handed foes has extended after ending 20-year-old Learner Tien’s best run at a major for a fourth Australian Open semifinal berth.
The German reached his 10th Grand Slam semifinal at the 25th seed’s expense 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 7-6(3) to set a high-profile clash against either world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz or Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
The 28-year-old had claimed 35 of his past 36 showdowns against southpaws, but his sole defeat in that stretch came against Tien on a hard court in Acapulco last year.
Against the youngest player to reach the quarterfinals since Nick Kyrgios in 2015, he rebounded from a 66-minute second-set disappointment to secure his 12th successive win over a left-handed opponent at a major.
“Learner from the baseline was playing unbelievable. I don't think I've played anyone who plays that well from the baseline for a very, very long time,” Zverev said.
“I don't know what Michael Chang has done with him in the off-season, but the way he's playing, it's incredible. Without my 20 aces or something like that, I probably would not have won today. Obviously very happy with my serve, but yeah, just generally happy to be back in the semis.”
A lesson in consistency and concentration throughout, it was a performance that again cemented Zverev’s name in the fray for title contention.
He finished with 56 winners, including 24 aces, in a concerted move to press for more as he looked to keep pace with his Grand Slam-winning rivals.
“That was the work I've done in the off season, to get a little bit more in my game,” Zverev said. “I think what makes the big difference between the best two players with, with Jannik [Sinner] and Carlos [Alcaraz] … is the first shot after the serve.
“I mean, they're so aggressive, they don't let you kind of get into the rally, and, you know, that's something that I’ve worked on a lot.”
In the duo’s third showdown — their second at a Slam after Zverev levelled the ledger in the opening round at Roland Garros last year — both started assuredly on serve under a closed Rod Laver Arena roof.
Having settled into his rhythm, the third seed pressed his less-experienced rival and was rewarded when gifted the first break on a string of errors for 4-2. It was an advantage he sustained to secure the opening set in 36 minutes.
Only a year ago, as a 121st-ranked qualifier, Tien brought down Daniil Medvedev en route to his maiden Grand Slam fourth round and continued his rapid rise since.
Seeded for the first time in a Slam, he had beaten Medvedev again — this time in the fourth round — for his maiden Australian Open quarterfinal
Bidding to become the youngest American man in the Open era to reach the Australian Open semifinals, he stood his ground throughout a tense second set, and his clever deception produced a drop-shot winner on his way to a 6-5 lead, only for Zverev to force the tiebreak on his 12th ace.
Following an exceptional second set tiebreak, which he snatched from Zverev’s grip with a savagely angled forehand winner to level at a set apiece, Tien’s concentration momentarily dipped early in the third.
A pair of double faults didn’t help his cause as he surrendered serve and Zverev hammered home the advantage, swamping the net on his way to a double break before finishing the set with a flourish, including a forehand winner down the line.
He did not commit a single unforced error in the third set, while his opponent did not win a point on second serve.
Such a heavy shift in momentum could have instantly quashed the hopes of many other 20-year-olds, but urged on by his coach, former Australian Open finalist Michael Chang, Tien kept his nose in front in a fiercely fought fourth set.
Only the third break point the American conjured — a set point, no less — whizzed by when Zverev walloped a 207km/h serve into the corner and it was his last hurrah.
Zverev tightened the screws to run away with the tiebreak at the three-hour, 13-minute mark.