This Australian Open is already over for Daniil Medvedev. The world number 5 will go no further than the 2nd round. The fault of Learner Tien, a young American hope of 19 from qualifying and classified at the 121st rank at ATP who allowed himself the luxury of playing a villain in Russian who came three times in the final of the tournament (in 2021, 2022 and 2024). The feat succeeded by the Californian of Vietnamese origin who disputed the test for the first time in his life and had never spent a tower in a big slam was worth a dimension. Nevertheless did not steal it. An executioner in five Russian sets (6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6) at more than three in the morning local time and after a little less than five hours of play, signing there the best success of this career which started a short time ago, the hero of the day in Melbourne could also put an end to the Medvedev route without losing the slightest set.
The “Tsar”, already on the edge of the abyss, had thus had to rule out a first match ball, in the decisive game of the third round when it had been dominated in the first two to obtain the right to remain alive in this part then well embarked for the former world number 1. Taking advantage of a slight relaxation of his opponent and then an urgent desire of the American, who confessed after the fact that he had not found any other reason than to let the set spin to remedy it (“I really wanted to urinate”), Medvedev is nevertheless managed to reset the counters to zero.
Moutet will have to release the big game
Tien, who had already taken over the Argentinian Ugo Carabelli in five sets in his first match, then left more beautiful. But once again, the break successful by the world 121st did not prevent Medvedev, determined not to let go, from returning to the height. After an interruption to allow the organizers to deploy the roof, just before the two players took turns in turn the service of their opponent, it was finally said that this last match on the program of the day would be decided at the end of the first super tie-break in the fortnight. Tien continued to get out of the fairly exceptional blows, especially in the forehand.
However, it was Medvedev, pushed by his clan, of which Gilles Simon is now part, who offered himself the first mini-break, quickly filled again by the young American prodigy, who was not going to let his chance then have in turn created a gap. Winner finally 10 points to 7 of this super tie-break, Tien will face one of our five Blues in the next round: Corentin Moutet. The latter is warned: he will have to play his best tennis to block the road to the Russian fall.
