The Learner Tiena 19-year-old American qualifier, outlasted marathoner Daniil Medvedev in a stunning Australian Open upset, sending the three-time finalist out of the tournament in a grueling epic in the opening hours.
As the clock ticked toward 3 a.m. Friday, the California teenager, who had looked down after the fifth seed made one of his trademark comebacks, found remarkable mental and physical reserves to succeed a 6-3 7-6 (4). 6-7(8) 1-6 7-6(10-7) triumph in 4 hours 49 minutes at Margaret Court Arena.
A good-sized, if teary-eyed, crowd remained, transfixed by the drama as the world’s number 121 learner – memorably named after his mother, a maths teacher – became a teacher, teaching a lesson in indefatigability to the outgoing. – comes out the king of those left behind.
“I was really hoping it wasn’t going to be a break in the fifth set,” smiles Tien, who had won his first Grand Slam match a few days earlier but is now the youngest American in the third round in Melbourne. since Pete Sampras, 18, in 1990.
“Anyway, I’m really, really happy to have won. I know I made it a lot harder than it maybe could have been…but whatever!”
