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25 Jan 2026 | 16.30
Learner Tien is the big surprise of this 2026 Australian Open. It was on this stage a year ago that the American made himself known, and since then, he has taken huge steps forward to return to Melbourne and once again defeat Daniil Medvedev, completing the transformation of a player who aims to go far.
The match he played against Daniil Medvedev was nearly flawless; he gave the Russian no chances, completely outplaying him and leaving him clueless against Learner Tien's repertoire. This overwhelming dominance was reflected in the scoreline with a convincing 6-4, 6-0, 6-3, allowing him to advance to his first Grand Slam quarterfinals, where he will face Alexander Zverev, with whom he has a tied head-to-head record (1-1).
Speaking about his comprehensive match against Medvedev, his current form, and his upcoming quarterfinal clash with Zverev at the 2026 Australian Open, Learner Tien addressed the media in the post-match press conference.
Learner Tien talks about his excellent tennis level at the 2026 Australian Open
"I think I played very close to my best level, if not the best. I'm really happy with how I performed from start to finish. Even when I had a clear advantage, I tried not to ease off. Daniil is dangerous regardless of the score; I know this well from having faced him last year, so I'm very pleased to have been able to close out the match in straight sets."
A solid performance from the start
"I started very well. I had a nosebleed in the third game, and I was afraid of cooling down or losing 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 almost throughout the match."
"I tried to take it point by point, not thinking too far ahead. By the third set, I looked back a bit and was surprised at how long I had managed to stay in control. I only got broken once against one of the best returners on the circuit, so I'm very happy with how I handled the match and my overall level."
Ready to face Zverev
"I feel like I've been improving match by match, making small jumps in level and comfort on the court. Right now, I feel better than at any point this week and year, so I'm very excited about that match."
A completely different Tien from a year ago
"I have much more experience. Even though it's only been a year, for me, it's a huge difference. Mental clarity at certain moments and better handling of such matches make a big difference."
Didn't underestimate Medvedev at any point
"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 throw me off the match. Against him, no scoreline is entirely safe, so I just tried to stay focused and keep going."
Seeking a second win against Zverev
"When I defeated him in Acapulco, I don't think he was at his best, 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's playing much better now, so it will be interesting," says a Learner Tien who aims to continue causing surprises at this 2026 Australian Open, with Alexander Zverev as his next target.
Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Tien, tras barrer a Medvedev: "Creo que jugué muy cerca de mi mejor nivel"
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26 May 2026 | 16:00Medvedev : "Le tennis a changé depuis cinq ans, je peine à trouver mon rythme" -
26 May 2026 | 23:00Le plus grand rival de Sinner à Roland Garros sera son propre corps -
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