Learner Tien said he had taken inspiration from the upsets masterminded by Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik after stunning three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open on Thursday. (More Tennis News)
🌞Tien came through a near five-hour epic to beat Medvedev, runner-up at Melbourne Park in 2021, 2022 and 2024, 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (8-10) 1-6 7-6 (10-7) on Margaret Court Arena.
🎶In the process, the 19-year-old American became the first qualifier to claim an ATP top-five win at the Australian Open since Guillermo Garcia Lopez, who defeated Carlos Moya in 2005 (R128).
𝕴His victory continued a theme of this year's tournament, which had already seen Jakub Mensik eliminate sixth seed Casper Ruud and Joao Fonseca beat ninth seed Andrey Rublev.
⛄Since 1973, this year's Australian Open is only the third grand slam where three different teenagers have claimed ATP top-10 wins, after Roland-Garros in 1990 and 2006.
🔯Asked if triumphs by Mensik and Fonseca had served as motivation ahead of his own second-round clash, Tien said: "I think it was definitely pretty inspiring.
🌌"They obviously got those wins before I played my match today. I was just trying to join them.
🅠"I think just seeing them... the wins they've had this week just added a little bit more belief that it was possible."
🎃Tien will face Corentin Moutet in the third round on Saturday, but his primary focus is on recovery after coming through a four-hour, 53-minute slog.
꧂"It hasn't really set in yet, I don't think. I'm just pretty happy to be off the court," he said.
🐽"I don't think I've played a match that long ever, or even spent that much time on a tennis court straight.
༒"Honestly, I'm just glad to be off. Obviously I'm really happy, but I don't think it has fully hit me yet."
