Melbourne, Australia – In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the tennis world, 19-year-old American prodigy Learner Tien defeated world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in a five-set marathon at the Australian Open on Monday.

Tien, ranked 121st in the world, secured a 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6 victory over the seasoned Russian, marking one of the biggest upsets in recent Grand Slam history. The match lasted a grueling four hours and 48 minutes.

The Vietnamese-American teenager has been making waves on the junior circuit, reaching the finals of both the Australian Open and US Open juniors in 2023. However, his success at the senior level had been limited until now. Prior to this tournament, Tien had never advanced past the first round of a Grand Slam.

Inspired by the recent victories of fellow teenagers Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, who also pulled off major upsets in the early rounds, Tien played with fearless abandon. “Seeing Fonseca and Mensik win gave me a lot of confidence,” Tien said. “I just went out there and tried to enjoy myself and see what I could do.”

Tien’s victory is a testament to the rising talent in men’s tennis and has many fans and experts predicting a bright future for the young American.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]