Medvedev and his brutal opinion on Tien: "He could be the world number one someday"

Carlos Navarro | 8 Oct 2025 | 19.30

Medvedev and Tsitsipas greet each other after a great match in Shanghai. Source: Getty

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Daniil Medvedev successfully navigated through a tough battle today in Shanghai against his particular nemesis of this 2025 season. Few rivals have caused as much trouble for the Russian as Learner Tien, someone capable of displaying the same patience as him from the baseline and, simultaneously, weaving a tremendous web that has always unnerved the Muscovite... until today, a match in which he showed maturity, clarity of thought, and a renewed aggression to emerge victorious.

However, the shift in momentum does not change the appreciation that Daniil Medvedev has for Learner Tien. At just 19 years old, the American is one of the circuit's brightest talents, something the Russian is well aware of... but perhaps few have as much faith in him. Daniil is generous in his praise, describing him as one of the toughest opponents of his career and, in a press conference marked by his usual honesty, he even suggested that someday he could be world number one.

Medvedev, effusive in praising Learner Tien and optimistic about his chances in Shanghai

- Tien, an impressive competitor and someone to watch out for in the future

"I might not have the exact words, but in my opinion, he is an amazing tennis player. When I say 'tennis player,' I mean everything, the whole package as a tennis player. He doesn't have a big serve, and the serve is crucial in modern tennis. Without an exceptional serve, he still manages to play sensational tennis at just 19. With only 19 years, he has a lot of time to progress, which bodes well for his future. You never know what can happen, tennis is a tough sport, but I'm glad to have triumphed against him because, beyond the big names like the Big Three, Sinner, and Alcaraz, he might be the toughest rival I've ever faced. I believe he could be world number one in the future."

- A match with many stages where he experienced physical and mental strain

"That's how he plays and how he makes you feel. If I had played at my best level in the three matches we've faced each other, whether for three or five sets, I probably would have won the match... but he makes you play in a certain way, always forcing you to hit one more shot, making you run more. When you're at the net and feel like the point is in your hands, he pulls off a passing shot out of nowhere; when you're 30-0 up, he keeps fighting, and suddenly it's 30-all... that's what he does. In a way, I like it. I hate facing Learner, but I love the way he competes on the court. Today was not easy, just like in any match against him."

- Suffered cramps towards the end of the second set: How did he recover for the third?

"I have no idea. I just tried to fight. I did the same in Beijing. I started cramping, kept playing, and when it was 4-0, I thought they might go away, but it only got worse. Here, the cramps did go away. When the second set ended, the first game of the third was quite tough, but I managed to stretch my legs later and felt a bit better. Happy to have overcome those cramps and secured the victory."

- Lots of conversation and complaint with his coaching staff ... does it help or just vent frustration?

"Zero, zero, it doesn't help me at all. I should be calmer on the court, but Learner drives me absolutely crazy. He is an amazing tennis player. I lost two very tough matches against him, so I was afraid of falling again. You don't know how happy I am to have come out on top, especially in a match with so many ups and downs."

- Is there any sense of revenge in this victory?

"No, no, I'm just happy to have won. I don't like the word revenge because I would have liked to win all three matches against him. However, I lost the first two, so it feels great to finally win one. I wasn't thinking about revenge or anything like that. Perhaps if we were playing in a Grand Slam final, I might have felt some sort of revenge, but today it's simply a great triumph."

- Next challenge, Alex de Miñaur

"Another match awaits me where I'll have to run a lot again, so I hope to have good recovery sessions. He is a tough opponent playing very well this season. It's going to be an interesting challenge, no doubt, but I am also in good form, so we'll see."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev y su brutal opinión sobre Tien: "Podría ser número uno del mundo algún día"

Daniil Medvedev