Learner Tien keeps breaking new ground in Melbourne.
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One year after reaching the fourth round on his Australian Open main-draw debut as a qualifier, the 20-year-old delivered an emphatic performance on Sunday to dismantle 11th seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-0 6-3, advancing to his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal and a showdown with AO 2025 finalist Alexander Zverev.
With Sunday’s triumph, Tien is the youngest AO men’s quarterfinalist since Nick Kyrgios in 2015, and the youngest American to reach a maiden men’s singles Grand Slam quarterfinal since Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2001.
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He also joins Roddick, Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton as the fourth American man since 2000 to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal before the age of 21.
“It feels amazing. It’s so special to do it, especially here, where it means so much to me to come back and play every year. This was a big goal for me, and I’m just super happy,” Tien said on court, as fans waving ‘L’ plates and American flags cheered at the top of their lungs.
“Every year since I’ve been coming here, the crowd support has been amazing. I don’t know why, honestly. It’s so special to come back and play in front of a crowd like this, with this much energy and support. It means the world to me to do it here.”