Medvedev Maintains Perspective After Australian Open Upset by Rising Star Tien
Despite a commanding start to the 2026 season, Daniil Medvedev suffered a straight-sets defeat to Learner Tien in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday, a loss that snapped an eight-match win streak. The 29-year-old, a former World No. 1, acknowledged Tien’s dominance while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a broader perspective on his recent form.
Tien Delivers Stunning Victory in Melbourne
The 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 victory for the 20-year-old Tien marked a significant upset, halting Medvedev’s perfect run through the early stages of the season. According to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Medvedev had been flawless, entering the match with an 8-0 record. However, the former three-time Australian Open finalist found himself outmatched by Tien’s aggressive play.
“He played great, super-aggressive,” Medvedev said following the match. “Even when I was making good shots, he was making a better shot back. I didn’t find many solutions today on the court, which is rare, and I didn’t feel that many times in my life like this.”
Focusing on the Bigger Picture
Despite the disappointing result, Medvedev remained composed, choosing to focus on his overall performance over the past several months. “I think I should focus more in general,” he stated. “If we take the past eight tournaments, starting from US Open, I played great. I beat a lot of players. I played great against some top players. In general, I was going far in the results.”
He highlighted his recent successes, including victories over Quentin Halys and Fabian Marozsan at the Australian Open, as evidence of his improved form. “Even here, I won two very tough matches against opponents who played well,” Medvedev added. “So I should try not to focus on this exact match, which was not good, because he outplayed me, so that’s not a good feeling. But I should focus more on the general picture and just continue working the way I did for the last tournaments.”
A Challenging Head-to-Head Record
Sunday’s loss further extended Tien’s advantage in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, bringing the score to 3-1 in favor of the young American. Tien had previously defeated Medvedev in Melbourne last year, demonstrating a clear pattern of success against the Russian star. The reigning Next Gen ATP Finals champion has quickly established himself as a formidable opponent on the tour.
Recent Resurgence and Future Plans
After a challenging 18 months, Medvedev has shown signs of returning to his best form since the start of the Asian swing in September. Under the guidance of coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, he secured titles in Almaty and Brisbane, along with notable wins against Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur.
Medvedev is now scheduled to compete at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, where he was victorious in 2023, offering him an immediate opportunity to rebound from the setback in Melbourne. Despite the frustration of a Grand Slam defeat, Medvedev remains optimistic about his future prospects, emphasizing the importance of continued hard work and a positive mindset. “If I manage to play good, beat all the players I have beaten in all these tournaments, I can get to where I want,” he concluded.
