Learner Tien knocks out Medvedev in thrilling five-set duel

Daniil Medvedev became the latest top-10 player to lose to a teenager at the Australian Open this week, crashing out in five sets to 19-year-old Learner Tien in the wee hours of Friday morning in Melbourne.

The No.5 seed’s defeat follows the losses of No.5 seed Casper Ruud and No.9 seed Andrey Rublev to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik and 18-year-old Joao Fonseca, respectively, earlier in the tournament.

The three-time Australian Open finalist was a heavy favourite across tennis betting sites heading into his match against Tien, paying as low as $1.16 at Marantelli Bet.

But the young American played brilliant tennis over the course of the four-hour, 49-minute match – the longest of the 2025 Australian Open so far – to prevail 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6(7).

“Honestly it hasn’t really set in yet, I don’t think,” Tien said afterwards.

“I’m just pretty happy to be off the court.

“I don’t think I’ve played a match that long ever, or even spent that much time on a tennis court straight.

“Obviously really happy, but I don’t think it fully hit me yet.”

Recommended!

The Better Bettors!

Australian-owned and operated bookmaker!

Join MarantelliBet

18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?

Fast Payouts

50% matched deposit up to USD $5,000

Visit BetOnline

Given his youth, Tien did well to set aside setbacks in the second-round match, including a missed match point in the third set.

“It wasn’t super difficult,” he said of moving on from the missed opportunity.

“I mean, I didn’t even touch a ball on that match point.

“It wasn’t like I had a huge opportunity.

“I don’t know how long that set was, it was long.

“I was down a break, broke back.

“To lose in a long breaker after saving a set point, then having my own match point, was a little tough.

“Honestly, I was just telling myself if going into the match, if I could start two sets to one, I’d be thrilled.

“It wasn’t a bad position to be in.”

The clash was Medvedev’s sixth five-setter in Melbourne in the past two editions of the tournament, having already gone the distance against world No.418 Kasidit Samrej in his opening match.

His exit now opens up the Australian Open outright betting market, with the Russian on the fifth line of betting ($15) at Neds to win the tournament before losing to Tien.

Jannik Sinner ($2), Carlos Alcaraz ($3.50), Novak Djokovic ($6.50) and Alexander Zverev ($7.50 remain on the first four lines of betting across the top online bookmakers, while the following four lines all shorten.

2024 US Open finalist Taylor Fritz – who was seeded to face Medvedev in the quarter-finals – shortens to $15, followed by Australia’s Alex de Minaur ($23), Holger Rune ($34) and Ben Shelton ($41).

Tien himself improves his own title odds but remains a long shot at $126 to win his maiden Grand Slam with Marantelli Bet.

Next up, he will face mercurial Frenchman Corentin Moutet, where he is a slight favourite ($1.72) to prevail on most betting apps.

Sports news