Another teen rises in Melbourne, Medvedev falls to the Tien dream

World No.5 Russian loses to USA's 19-year-old in a five-set thriller in the second round of the Australian Open

- Shahid Judge

MUMBAI: A comment made in jest on Tuesday was nearly proven true on Thursday by Daniil Medvedev. The world No. 5 needed five sets to get the better of 418th-ranked wild card Kasidit Samrej of Thailand in their first-round match of the Australian Open on January 14.

"I know I play better when I play more tennis," Medvedev had quipped. "So why play one hour 30, I need minimum three hours to feel my shots better."

On Thursday, he came across 19-year-old American player Learner Tien, ranked 121 in the world. The youngster won the first two sets to put Medvedev on the backfoot. But true to what he had said on court days earlier, the Russian started to find his groove. He won a tight third set after saving a match point. He blazed through the fourth set.

Medvedev was coming back to his best. But when it came time to serve for the match, Tien was better.