Former World No. 1 battles past American teen in three-set thriller
Daniil Medvedev finally got the better of Learner Tien, securing a hard-fought 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 6-4 win at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. The victory marked his first against the 19-year-old after two previous losses earlier this season, including a marathon five-set clash at the Australian Open.
“I don’t want to leave [the] best city in the world yet,” Medvedev told the tournament cameras after the match, reflecting his relief and determination to advance to his third Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the season.
A match of momentum swings and physical struggle
The clash was a rollercoaster from the start. Medvedev narrowly edged the opening set tiebreaker, saving a set point along the way. In the second set, Tien surged from 0-3 down to win five consecutive games, only for Medvedev to respond with a three-game streak, leveling the match.
Physical issues complicated matters as cramps struck Medvedev during the second-set tiebreak. Unable to request a medical timeout without forfeiting the tiebreak, he battled through the discomfort, shortening points and relying on grit over mobility.
“Learner drives me nuts,” Medvedev admitted post-match. “He’s an unbelievable tennis player. I lost two very strong matches against him, so for sure I was scared to lose again. I’m really happy that I managed to cross the finish line. The match was up-and-down, but I’m very happy that I managed to win.”
A season of reflection and resurgence
The 2021 US Open champion has undergone a period of introspection following first-round exits in his last three majors, including a five-set loss to Benjamin Bonzi at the US Open. After parting ways with longtime coach Gilles Cervara, Medvedev enlisted Thomas Johansson, himself a former Grand Slam champion.
The coaching change has coincided with an uptick in performance. Medvedev reached the semifinals at the China Open and displayed strong form in his early matches in Shanghai, demonstrating resilience and tactical adaptability.
Next challenge: Alex de Minaur
With the win, Medvedev extends his Shanghai campaign and will face No. 7 seed Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals. De Minaur advanced with a straight-sets victory over Portugal’s Nuno Borges earlier in the day, setting the stage for a compelling showdown.