Melbourne erupted in shock on Sunday as world No. 11 Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the Australian Open in the fourth round. The Russian star fell to 25th seed Learner Tien of the USA in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3, handing the American his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal berth.
The opening set was a tight affair, with both players trading blows until Tien broke through for the decisive edge. From there, the match turned into a rout. Tien dominated the second set, whitewashing Medvedev 6-0 and reeling off 11 consecutive games to seize total control. Medvedev mounted a brief fightback in the third, but Tien’s relentless returns and consistency proved too much.
Medvedev’s serve faltered badly, landing just six aces while winning only 58% of first-serve points and a dismal 33% on second serves. Struggling to find rhythm against Tien’s aggressive baseline play, the match lasted just over an hour, underscoring the American’s commanding performance.
This early exit marks one of Medvedev’s quickest departures from the season’s first major in recent years. Tien now faces world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the quarters, aiming for a semifinal spot.
In another highlight, local hero Alex de Minaur thrilled the home crowd by dismantling Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. The world No. 6 powered into the quarterfinals for the second straight year, setting up a blockbuster clash with top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who advanced after beating Tommy Paul.