Medvedev succumbs to a gifted apprentice

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Exciting clash that took place in the second round of the 2025 Australian Open, with Learner Tien making his debut by defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-7 (8) 1-6 7-6 (7)

The magic of tennis lies in many aspects, but one of the most powerful is the existence of great surprises. Witnessing the emergence of a star capable of dazzling even a well-established reference with their first shines is as unusual as it is impressive. This was the scenario in the clash of the 2025 Australian Open between a Daniil Medvedev far from his usual level and a Learner Tien clearly on the rise.

From the beginning of the match, it was clear that the young American was ready to become the Russian's nightmare. Solid from the baseline, with excellent mobility, technical skills aplenty to counter Medvedev's sporadic attacks, and an immeasurable ability to change pace with parallel shots. The first set was a tennis ode to Learner's talent, leaving Daniil clueless in trying to counter his complete and versatile game.

Medvedev improved somewhat in the second set, as both players engaged in a carousel of breaks, entrenched in endless rallies due to the heaviness of the balls under the Melbourne night. The Russian returned to his roots, seeking less aggression and more solidity, but failed to capitalize on numerous advantages. He looked for angles to push Tien out of his comfort zone, only to find resolute and imaginative responses from his opponent. The lack of reliability with his serve and uncontrollable stress proved to be too strong a challenger for Daniil, who succumbed in the tiebreak, unable to leverage his experience and intangibles.

It could have been expected that the American's adrenaline would drop in the third set, allowing Medvedev to swiftly gain ground. However, Tien was not willing to make rookie mistakes and continued defending with mastery and attacking the ball confidently. Once again, the Russian took the lead, yet faltered in consistency with his serve. This led to another tiebreak where both players faced critical situations. Learner took a 4-2 lead, Daniil made a comeback, and the American even had a match point which Medvedev saved with an ace, eventually winning the set.

- Tien eased off in the fourth set to return full of energy in a memorable fifth

After weathering the storm, the Russian enjoyed a serene fourth set, resulting from the physical and mental strain experienced by Tien, who had felt victorious but then faced the harsh reality of not being able to sustain the exceptional level he had displayed. The American paused to regroup, intending to give his all in the fifth set, emerging with renewed energy. So much so that he struck first with a break, swiftly countered by the Russian.

Endless rallies resumed, tactical changes of all kinds took place, and both players displayed unwavering resistance, avoiding errors and leaving no short balls that could be attacked securely. It was a game of twists and turns, leading to yet another tiebreak where the best of both shone. Surprisingly, Learner Tien found a way to showcase his youth against a disheartened Daniil Medvedev. The future of tennis is bright.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev sucumbe ante un aprendiz aventajado