Extraordinary teenager Tien stuns Medvedev in late-night Australian Open epic

Learner Tien put in one of the most remarkable performances this year’s Australian Open to topple three-time former finalist Daniil Medvedev, overcoming the fifth seed 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (8), 1-6, 7-6 (7) in a late-night epic at Melbourne Park.

In extraordinary circumstances, Tien finally came through a deciding match tiebreak at close to three o-clock in the morning after the Russian had valiantly fought back from two sets down to level the match.

After Medvedev took a one-break lead in the fifth and final set, the writing appeared to be on the wall for the 19-year-old America, who struggled in the fourth set with apparent fatigue.

Yet, in just his fourth Grand Slam main-draw appearance, Tien broke back in the eighth game of the decider before – after a brief rain delay – clinching the biggest win of his life by playing a superb match tiebreak.

This tournament has been a year of exciting new arrivals causing major waves and huge upsets, with both Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik also posting remarkable statement wins.

But, against the former world No 1 and Grand Slam champion, and in the brutal conditions of a near-five hour marathon played out in the early hours of the morning, Tien’s accomplishment arguably outstrips them all.

Tien, ranked No 121, will play Frenchman Corentin Moutet next.

The 19-year-old American beat Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli (4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4) in the previous round of the first Grand Slam tournament in 2025.

In the first round of the first Grand Slam tournament in 2025, Medvedev, ranked No 5, won against Thai wildcard Kasidit Samrej (6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2).

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other second-round results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 60.627.573, most recent results first):

• Jannik Sinner (1) beat Tristan Schoolkate (WC): 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
• Holger Rune (13) beat Matteo Berrettini: 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6)
• Lorenzo Sonego beat Joao Fonseca (Q): 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
• Fabian Marozsan beat Frances Tiafoe (17): 6-7 (3), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
• Alex Michelsen beat James McCabe (WC): 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
• Marcos Giron beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry: 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
• Taylor Fritz (4) beat Cristian Garin (Q): 6-2, 6-1, 6-0
• Corentin Moutet beat Mitchell Krueger (Q): 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4
• Alex De Minaur (8) beat Tristan Boyer (Q): 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
• Ben Shelton (21) beat Pablo Carreno Busta: 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4
• Lorenzo Musetti (16) beat Denis Shapovalov: 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6), 6-2
• Gael Monfils beat Daniel Altmaier: 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
• Francisco Cerundolo (31) beat Facundo Diaz Acosta: 6-2, 1-0 ret.
• Karen Khachanov (19) beat Gabriel Diallo: 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
• Miomir Kecmanovic beat Hubert Hurkacz (18): 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
• Alexander Zverev (2) beat Pedro Martinez Portero: 6-1, 6-4, 6-1
• Tommy Paul (12) beat Kei Nishikori: 6-7 (3), 6-0, 6-3, 6-1
• Ugo Humbert (14) beat Hady Habib (Q): 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
• Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat Felix Auger-Aliassime (29): 6-7 (7), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
• Jack Draper (15) beat Thanasi Kokkinakis: 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
• Jakub Mensik beat Casper Ruud (6): 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
• Jacob Fearnley beat Arthur Cazaux: 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3
• Aleksandar Vukic beat Sebastian Korda (22): 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
• Arthur Fils (20) beat Quentin Halys: 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5
• Roberto Carballes Baena beat James Duckworth: 6-4, 6-2, 7-5
• Novak Djokovic (7) beat Jaime Faria (Q): 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2
• Nuno Borges beat Jordan Thompson (27): 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
• Benjamin Bonzi beat Francesco Passaro (LL): 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Yoshihito Nishioka: 6-0, 6-1, 6-4
• Jiri Lehecka (24) beat Hugo Gaston: 6-3, 3-1 ret.
• Tomas Machac (26) beat Reilly Opelka: 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4