Tien, after sweeping Medvedev: "I think I played very close to my best level"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 25 Jan 2026 | 16.30

Tien, after sweeping Medvedev: "I think I played very close to my best level". Photo: Gettyimages

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Learner Tien is proving to be the big surprise of this 2026 Australian Open. It was on this stage that the American made himself known a year ago, and since then he has taken giant steps forward, returning to Melbourne and defeating Daniil Medvedev once again, closing the chapter of a player who aspires to go very far.

The match he played against Daniil Medvedev was practically flawless, leaving no options for the Russian, who was completely blocked and out of ideas against Learner Tien's repertoire. This overwhelming dominance was reflected in the scoreboard with a clear 6-4, 6-0, 6-3, allowing him to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinals, where he will face Alexander Zverev, with whom he has a tied head-to-head record (1-1).

He discussed his complete match against Medvedev, his current form, and his upcoming quarterfinal match against Zverev at the 2026 Australian Open in the press conference following his victory.

Learner Tien talks about his high level of play at the 2026 Australian Open

"I think I played very close to my best level, if not the best. I am really happy with how I performed from start to finish. Even when I had a clear advantage, I tried not to let up. Daniil is dangerous with any scoreline, I know that well from playing against him last year, so I am very pleased to have been able to close out the match in straight sets."

A solid performance from the start

"I started very well. In the third game, my nose started bleeding, and I was afraid of cooling down or losing my rhythm, but luckily, I was able to maintain the momentum. I felt I was playing very well from the beginning and managed to sustain that momentum practically throughout the entire match."

"I tried to take it point by point, not thinking too far ahead. In the third set, I looked back a bit and was surprised at how long I had managed to stay in control. My serve was only broken once against one of the best returners on the circuit, so I am very happy with how I handled the match and my overall level of play."

Ready to face Zverev

"I feel like I have been improving match by match, making small leaps in level and comfort on the court. Right now, I feel better than at any point this week and this year, so I am looking forward to that match."

A completely different Tien compared to a year ago

"I have a lot more experience. Even though it has only been a year, for me, it is a huge difference. Mental clarity at certain moments and better management of matches like this make a big difference."

He never underestimated Medvedev at any moment

"I didn't think too much about that. I didn't want it to distract me. I knew I was playing well and had momentum, so I couldn't let his changes take me out of the game. Against him, no score is entirely safe, so I just tried to stay focused and keep going."

Seeking his second victory against Zverev

"When I beat him in Acapulco, I don't think he was at his best level, but I played a great match. It was different at Roland Garros; there he was clearly superior, and I couldn't break his serve. Both of us have changed since then, and I think he is playing much better now, so it will be interesting," says a Learner Tien who aims to continue surprising at this 2026 Australian Open, with Alexander Zverev as the next opponent.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tien, tras barrer a Medvedev: "Creo que jugué muy cerca de mi mejor nivel"