California Native Learner Tien Pulls Off Big Upset at Australian Open

The Irvine native, ranked No. 121 in the world, topped No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in a match that went nearly five hours, including a rain delay.

Learner Tien plays a backhand in a second-round match against Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 16. Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Learner Tien, 19, gave Californians a little extra to cheer for on Jan. 17 in Melbourne, Australia, as he pulled an upset of Russian Daniil Medvedev in the second round of the Australian Open.

“I don’t know if my parents are still watching. I don’t know what time it is in California, but I think they were. My whole family stayed up to watch, so I’m not sure if they’re still watching, but ... if they are, I love you guys. Thank you for always supporting me from across the world,” Tien said during his on-court post-match interview and speech.  “I know you guys wish you could be here. I wish you could be here too.”

An Irvine, California, native, Tien outlasted Medvedev 6–3, 7–6 (4), 6–7 (8), 1–6, 7–6 in a match that went four hours, 49 minutes. That included a rain delay. Because of the 19-hour difference between Melbourne and Los Angeles, the match concluded after 2 a.m. Friday in Melbourne and 8 a.m. Thursday in Los Angeles.

“I really appreciate all you guys staying out here. I know it’s late. I have no idea what time it is, but I’m sure it’s really late,” Tien told the fans.

Medvedev, 28, came into the tournament as the No. 5 seed, and he reached the finals of the Australian Open three times in the last four years. That included his 2024 finals loss to Italy’s Jannik Sinner.

Tien had a 0–3 record in Grand Slam tournaments before the Australian Open. Ranked No. 121 in the world, Tien has a 5–7 singles record overall on the ATP Tour.

“I mean I was definitely hoping it wasn’t going to go to a fifth set [tie] breaker, but you know, either way, just really happy … to get a win,” Tien said in his on-court interview. “I know I made it a lot harder than maybe it could have been, but, whatever.”

Tien took the initial win in a nine-game first set with a forehand shot, and he kept things going with a second set win of 7–6 as he capped it with a forehand. Medvedev came back in the third set when he collected two points late to win 7–6.

It looked bleak for Tien in the fourth set as Medvedev took control and won 6–1. The fifth set went back and forth for 13 games, but Tien pulled out the win with four straight points on forehands and backhands.

“Losing the third was tough after playing for that long and having a match point. I didn’t even get to touch the ball. I don’t think it was an ace,” Tien said during the on-court interview. “So it was a little disappointing to see a fourth [set] after fighting back from a breakdown in the third.”

“Honestly in the fourth set I just had to pee so bad, so I was trying to finish it up fairly quick,” Tien added. “But I also wanted to start the fifth serving, so I scrapped that game at 0–5, and it all worked out.”

A pro since 2023, Tien previously played at USC for a semester. He had a strong amateur career before USC, which included the boys’ doubles championship at the Australian Open in 2023 and two USTA boys’ 18 national titles in 2022 and 2023.

Tien will face France’s Corentin Moutet, 25, next in the third round. Ranked 69, Moutet has a 64–89 record on the ATP.

“I saw a little bit of his first-round match this week not really thinking about if I could play him in the third round or not, but obviously, I have seen him,” Tien said in the interview. “I think it’ll be a fun match.”