Last year’s finalist Daniil Medvedev failed in the second round of the Australian Open after a night shift.
The world number five lost to qualifier Learner Tien from the USA after 4:48 hours of play 3:6, 6:7 (4:7), 7:6 (10:8), 6:1, 6:7 (7:10 ). The outsider, number 121 in the world, converted the decisive match point shortly before three o’clock local time in Melbourne.
For the Russian, the defeat against Tien is the earliest exit from a Grand Slam since his opening defeat at the French Open 2018. Medvedev had already needed five sets in the first round against the 418th in the world rankings, the Thai Kasidit Samrej.
In 2024 he defeated the German hopeful Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals after being 0-2 behind, but lost in the final in five sets to the Italian Jannik Sinner.
For opponent Tien, it was the biggest victory of his career. In the next round, the 19-year-old will face Frenchman Corentin Moutet.