After squandering a match point during the third set, Learner Tien was blitzed 6-1 in the fourth set by Daniil Medvedev.
It looked as if the 19-year-old American – coming off a five-set win in round one – was cooked and seemingly being run over by a three-time Australian Open finalist.
Tien struggled to win a point in the set, with 12 of Medvedev’s 30 points coming as unforced errors from the racquet of the USA teenager.
However, Tien had a bizarre reason for wanting the fourth set to be over quickly, before he shocked fifth seed Medvedev in an unbelievable fifth set to win 6-3 7-6(4) 6-7(8) 1-6 7-6(7) in four hours, 49 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
MORE: Who is Learner Tien? Age, ranking of teenage tennis star who stunned Daniil Medvedev at Australian Open
“Losing the third set in a tiebreak was tough, I had match point, and it was a little bit disappointing to see a fourth set,” Tien said in his on-court winners’ interview.
“But honestly in that fourth set, I just had to pee so bad, so I was just trying to finish it up fairly quick.
“I also wanted to start the fifth serving, so I scrapped out that game and it all worked out.”
“Honestly in the fourth set, I just had to pee so bad… I was just trying to finish it up fairly quick.” 😂
Learner Tien • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/CPeFvEeXcy
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2025
Medvedev served for the match at 6-5 in the fifth set and also led 6-4 in the 10-point breaker before being steamrolled by Tien.
Tien will now meet Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the third round at Melbourne Park on Saturday.
