American Teenager Learner Ten shocker no. 5 Medvedev at the Australian Open; 11 Americans in the 3rd round

On January 17, 2025By Littum

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Eleven Tien of the United States celebrates a point in the men’s … (+) Singles second round match against Daniil Medvedev during day five of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)

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Eleven Tien achieved the biggest win of her life to head a parade of 11 Americans entering the third round of the Australian Open.

Tien, a 19-year-old native of Irvine, Calif., who played at USC, upset the No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(10), 1-6, 7 -6(7) to advance to the third round of a major for the first time in his career. The match lasted 4 hours, 48 minutes and ended at 02.54 local time, the sixth latest major final in tennis history.

The left-handed qualifier is the youngest American to reach the third round at a Slam since Donald Young did so as an 18-year-old at the 2007 US Open.

Told that his match included the tournament’s first fifth-set breaker, he said: “I mean, I was definitely hoping it wouldn’t go to a fifth-set breaker, but whatever, just really happy to get a win. I know that I made it a lot harder than it could have been, but whatever.”

Tien, whose parents immigrated from Vietnam and introduced him to tennis in Irvine, Calif., followed 19-year-old Jakub Menšík of the Czech Republic into the third round. Another teenager, 18-year-old Joao Fonseca from Brazil, stunned no. 9 Andrey Rublev in the first round before losing in five sets in the second to Lorenzo Sonego.

There are six American men and five American women in the third round. Tommy Paul, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all play Thursday. No. 17, Frances Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist, was upset by Hungarian Fábián Marozsán in five sets in the second round.

“It’s been a really impressive Aussie Open for the Americans on both the women’s and men’s sides,” ESPN’s Chris Eubanks said on air. “I’m excited to see how the red, white and blue continue to shine down under.”

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Playing in just his fourth Grand Slam main draw, Tien held a match point on former US Open champion Medvedev in the third set but could not convert and ended up going to a tiebreak in the fifth set.

Down 4-6 in the breaker, Tien broke out with a feathery dropshot winner to cut it to 5-6. Medvedev then sailed a forehand long to make it 6-all.

Tien then hit a running forehand passing shot to tie it at 7-all, then hit an in-and-out forehand winner for 8-7. On the ensuing point, Medvedev ended a rally by hitting a two-handed backhand wide, bringing Tien to match point.

Tien then hit a service winner to take the match before raising his hands to meet Medvedev at the net.

Tien said afterwards that he had to go to the toilet badly during the fourth set, which is why it went so quickly.

“Honestly, I tried to finish it pretty quickly, but I wanted to start the fifth batch as well,” he said. “I scrapped that game at 0-5 and it all worked out.”

Tien will next face Corentin Moutet of France in the third round.

“I think it’s going to be a fun game,” Tien said.

Elsewhere among the men rolled no. 4 Taylor Fritz past qualifier Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 and Ben Shelton took out Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6 -4.

Fritz, the US Open runner-up last year, has dropped just eight games in his two matches so far and will next face 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils, who earned his place in the third round with a 7-5, 6- 3, 7-6 (3) victory over German Daniel Altmaier.

While Andre Agassi was the last American man to win the Melbourne Park title back in 2003, Australia’s wait for a homegrown men’s champion dates back to 1976.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Taylor Fritz of the United States forehands against … (+) Cristian Garin of Chile in the men’s singles second round match during day five of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

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On the women’s side, the American no. 19, Madison Keys, meeting the US no. 10 Danielle Collins in a popcorn match in the third round on Friday.

Keys advanced over Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse in three tough sets, while Collins made headlines to get into it with the Australian crowd during her victory over local favorite Destanee Aiav. She kissed the booing fans and thanked them for paying for her next five-star vacation.

“I think they really wanted her to win,” Collins told reporters after her 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 win. “I think there were a lot of people who were super drunk and had a hard time controlling themselves and were really excited.

“All I have to say is good luck trying to get under the skin of someone who really doesn’t care,” she added.

Collins said she actually enjoyed the hectic atmosphere.

“I loved it,” she said. “I’ve been doing this my whole life. I love playing to a crowd that has energy no matter what side they’re on.”

No. 8 American Emma Navarro advanced in three sets over China’s Wang Xiyu and will next face three-time former Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur.

“I think that’s the one that really stands out to me,” Eubanks said.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 16: Emma Navarro of the United States celebrates victory in the … (+) Women’s singles second round match against Xiyu Wang of China during day five of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo: Shi Tang/Getty Images)

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Here is a list of the remaining US men and women in the draw:

MEN

no. 4 Taylor Fritz

no. 12 Tommy Paul

No. 21 Ben Shelton

Alex Michelsen

Marcos Giron

WOMEN

no. 3 Coco Gauff

no. 7 Pegula

no. 8 Emma Navarro

no. 10 Danielle Collins

no. 19 Madison Keys