Fast Learner: Medvedev exit headlines day five upsets

FIFTH seed Daniil Medvedev has become the third top 10 player to go down to an unseeded teenage opponent within the first two rounds of this year’s Australian Open, after losing a five set marathon against American qualifier Learner Tien, 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6.
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The early-morning epic got underway at 10pm and lasted nearly five hours, with the 19-year-old victor withstanding a typically gallant Medvedev fightback. In a match which featured three tiebreaks, Tien won the first two sets and looked depleted after the three-time finalist hit back to even to ledger.
Despite spurning a third set match point, that was hardly the case, as Tien defied his age to stand up in the decisive set and finish the job – no less after a brief rain delay. The world number 121 expressed his relief post-match having been made to do things the hard way.
“I was definitely hoping it wasn’t going to go a fifth-set breaker,” joked a jovial Tien. “Either way, [I’m] just really happy to get a win. I know I made it a lot harder than maybe it could have been, but whatever!”
Medvedev exits the tournament where he has fared so well in the past, especially in late-night slogs. He will rue missed opportunities too, serving up 20 aces but going at a mere 56 per cent first serve in rate. Comparatively, Tien went at 71 per cent for seven aces.
With all the Round 2 action completed, the American will go on to face Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the next stage alongside five other compatriots to have qualified for Round 3. It comes after breaking through for his maiden Grand Slam win just days ago.

Medvedev was not the only seed to fall on day five. Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic toppled 18th seed Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, while Hungarian Fabian Marozsan outlasted 17th seed Frances Tiafoe in a five-setter, 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Only two Australians remain in the men’s draw, with Alex de Minaur the only local victor on day five. The eighth seed beat American qualifier Tristan Boyer 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 in just under two hours to join Aleksandar Vukic in the third round. The latter will face seeded Briton Jack Draper.
Tristan Schoolkate, who bowed out alongside fellow Aussie wildcard James McCabe yesterday, could hang his hat on taking a set off world number one Jannik Sinner. The Italian hit back strongly after dropping the first to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 in under three hours on Rod laver Arena.
Other top seeds proved clinical in Round 2, including Taylor Fritz. The American fourth seed conceded just three games en route to dispatching Chilean qualifier Cristian Garin. Meanwhile, giant killer Joao Fonseca was undone by Lorenzo Sonego in a five-setter after besting Andrey Rublev in Round 1.
>> DAY FOUR: Mensik hands sixth seed Ruud awakening
AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN’S RESULTS: DAY FIVE
A. de Minaur [8] def. T. Boyer [Q] 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
J. Sinner [1] def. T. Schoolkate [WC] 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
T. Fritz [4] def. C. Garin [Q] 6-2, 6-1, 6-0
L. Tien [Q] def. D. Medvedev [5] 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6
M. Kecmanovic def. H. Hurkacz [18] 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
H. Rune [13] def. M. Berrettini 7-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6
B. Shelton [21] def. P. Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4
F. Marozsan def. F. Tiafoe [17] 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
G. Monfils def. D. Altmaier 7-5, 6-3, 7-6
L. Sonego def. J. Fonseca [Q] 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
L. Musetti [16] def. D. Shapovalov 7-6, 7-6, 6-2
A. Michelsen def. J. McCabe [WC] 7-5, 6-3, 7-6
F. Cerundolo [31] def. F. Diaz Acosta [RET] 6-2, 1-0
C. Moutet def. M. Krueger [Q] 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-4
K. Khachanov [19] def. G. Diallo 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
M. Giron def. T. Etcheverry 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4