Tennis: Tien thrashes Medvedev after nosebleed to make maiden Slam quarter-final

AFP , Sunday 25 Jan 2026

Learner Tien battled through a nosebleed to thrash three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open on Sunday and make a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev speaks at a press conference after losing to USA’s Learner Tien in their men’s singles match on day eight of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2026. AFP

The 20-year-old American, who capped a breakout 2025 by winning the ATP Next Gen title, crushed the Russian 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 in just 1hr 42 mins on Margaret Court Arena.

It put 25th seed Tien into a last-eight clash with third-seeded German Alexander Zverev.

He is the youngest men's singles quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park since Nick Kyrgios in 2015 and the youngest American man to reach the last eight at a Slam since Andy Roddick in 2002 at the US Open.

"It feels amazing. I mean, so special to do it, especially here," Tien, who won his first career title in Metz in November, said of making his maiden quarter-final.

"It's always so special for me to come back and play here.

"Every year since I've been coming here, the crowd support has been amazing. I don't know why, honestly, a crowd like this with this much energy and support, it means the world to me to do it here."

Defeat was a sorry end for former world number one Medvedev, who was also knocked out last year by then-teenage qualifier Tien, in a five-set marathon.

This time the 11th seed Medvedev, who reached three of the last five finals in Melbourne, was a shadow of his former self.

Tien broke immediately to signal his intent, but his momentum was interrupted when he needed treatment for a nosebleed.

They resumed after a seven-minute break, with Tien taking the set.

After that it was all the American, who reeled off 10 straight games as Medvedev imploded, cutting a dejected figure.

He suddenly woke up and against the run of play won three games to give himself a glimmer of hope, before Tien seized back control and sprinted to the finish.

Medvedev was outplayed by Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final before a heart-wrenching defeat to Rafael Nadal a year later.

He lost to Jannik Sinner in 2024, crashing in five sets after being two up.

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