Robson predicts ‘upset’ for young star who Murray is ‘non-stop banging on’ about
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TNT Sports expert Laura Robson is predicting an upset in the Australian Open quarter-finals for an emerging tennis star who Andy Murray is “non-stop banging on about”.
Learner Tien displayed one of the performances of the tournament thus far in the men’s draw with a clinical dismantling of Daniil Medvedev.
The 20-year-old, who also eliminated Medvedev last year in Melbourne, breezed past the former world No. 1 in one hour and 39 minutes to reach the quarter-finals, where he will face No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev.
And with Jamie Murray – Andy’s brother and former doubles partner – in the TNT Sports studio, Robson revealed regular correspondence from the three-time Grand Slam champion.
“We’ve had non-stop messages from Andy throughout the week saying we’re not talking enough about Tien,” she said, while Tim Henman added Murray has been “banging on” about the American prospect.
Tien has played his way into eye-catching form in Melbourne, having come through a gruelling five-set victory in nearly four hours against compatriot Marcos Giron to open his run, and dropping a set against the unseeded Alexander Shevchenko in the second round.
Highlights: Tien leaves Medvedev bewildered as he reaches quarter-finals
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No. 25 seed Tien – who is the only player remaining in the men’s draw outside of the top 10 – romped past Nuno Borges in straight sets before his stunning victory over Medvedev.
He ran home a bagel in the second set against Medvedev as he won 11 consecutive games, only dropping serve once in the match, when he had already gained a double-break advantage in the third set.
Robson predicts Tien will cause an upset when he faces last year’s runner-up Zverev for a spot in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
“It feels like Tien is playing with that much more aggression with Michael Chang as his coach,” Robson said. “He’s got that belief in his game, and there’s no weaknesses that stand out, because he does everything really well.”
Zverev has equally impressed so far in Melbourne, and overcame an unfavourable head-to-head record against Francisco Cerundolo to dispatch the Argentinian in straight sets on Sunday.
The German, so far dominant on serve, has added strong variation to his game and has reaped the benefits, with his performance against Cerundolo his best so far in the tournament.
Henman feels Zverev must play to his strengths in order to stave off the threat Tien will undoubtedly pose.
“I think Zverev has got to do massive damage with the serve, because if they get into the baseline exchanges, as was the case against Medvedev, Tien was absolutely phenomenal,” said Henman.
“It was a ball-striking clinic, and Medvedev had no answers. It’s probably a slight step-up, Zverev has been playing very well, but it’s a 50/50 for me.”
Watch remarkable around-the-net shot as Tien baffles Medvedev
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Tien’s rise to a seeded position represents a remarkable rise after entering the Australian Open main draw as a qualifier last year.
He advanced to the round of 16 in that run, downing Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Medvedev and Corentin Moutet before crashing out to Lorenzo Sonego in four sets.
Tien secured his maiden ATP-level title in November by beating Cameron Norrie in the Moselle Open final in Metz.
His current run at the Australian Open is his deepest in a major tournament so far in his career, and Medvedev was quick to heap praise on the exciting prospect following their fourth-round meeting.
“He played great, super-aggressive,” the 2021 US Open champion said. “Even when I was making good shots, he was making a better shot back.
“[I] didn’t find many solutions today on the court, which is rare, and I didn’t feel that many times in my life like this.
‘This is remarkable’ – Watch as Tien wins 10 games in a row against rattled Medvedev
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“But, again, these things can happen. He had, like, an unbelievable match where everything went in.
“It did happen to me as well a couple of times, and you even kind of feel sorry for your opponent, because I can go for tweener now probably with closed eyes and make it. It happens.
“I should have done maybe something a little bit better to try to disturb this rhythm of his.”
After also securing his spot in the quarter-finals in Melbourne, Ben Shelton had words of praise for compatriot Tien.
“Just seeing the progress that he’s made, gosh. I guess I used to think of him as a little guy. He’s not little anymore, and he’s playing some serious ball. So I’m really excited.
‘Feels amazing’ – Tien becomes youngest American to reach quarter-finals since 2002
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“Obviously being a lefty as well, it’s fun for me to watch. I think that he plays great tennis tactically. I think he’s a great athlete. I think he’s just getting better and better.
“So I think the Learner Tien, Michael Chang duo is pretty dangerous and, yeah, just looking forward to seeing where he ends up at the end of the year.”
The victor of the quarter-final between Tien and Zverev will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Alex de Minaur.
Stream every match of the 2026 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+