You’ve got simply defeated three-time Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev in an exhausting five-set match that did not end till nearly 3am.
How do you rejoice after beating a former world primary?
Consuming a pizza, in fact.
Showing at his post-match media convention, a ravenous Learner Tien chomped down on slices of pepperoni pizza as he mirrored on his 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (8/10), 1-6, 7-6 (10/7) win over Medvedev.
“It was both going to be celebratory or a binge eat … it feels higher, it is extra celebratory, for certain,” Tien advised reporters.
Tien had motive to deal with himself after rising victorious from an engrossing encounter lasting 4 hours and 49 minutes on Margaret Courtroom Area.
The consequence meant the 19-year-old qualifier — ranked 121 on the earth — is the youngest American since Pete Sampras in 1990 to achieve the lads’s third spherical.
Tien had not received a match at a significant till this week at Melbourne Park. (AP: Ng Han Guan)
“I believe coming into my match at the moment, I used to be simply making an attempt to deal with it like some other match I ever performed,” Tien mentioned.
“Not placing an excessive amount of significance on simply this match at the moment, feeling like that is the most important match of my life or something like that.
“I believe simply taking the positives from this match and looking out ahead to the following one and transferring on.”
Tien rebounds in fifth set
Earlier than this week, Tien had a 0-3 win-loss file on the majors.
His solely different five-set match on the tour stage got here within the first spherical at Melbourne Park, when he obtained previous Camilo Ugo Carabelli in an encounter that nearly hit the 4-hour mark.
Tien (left) bounced again to seal his win over Medvedev within the fifth-set tiebreak. (AP: Ng Han Guan)
Tien had the prospect to beat fifth seed Medvedev in straight units however could not convert on a match level within the third.
Nonetheless, the missed alternative did not faze the laid-back Californian.
“It wasn’t tremendous tough,” Tien mentioned.
“I imply, I did not even contact a ball on that match level. It wasn’t like I had an enormous alternative.
“I do not understand how lengthy that set was, it was lengthy. I used to be down a break, broke again.
“To lose in a protracted breaker after saving a set level, then having my very own match level, was somewhat robust.
“Actually, I used to be simply telling myself going into the match, if I might begin two units to 1, I would be thrilled.
“It wasn’t a nasty place to be in.”
Tien’s win booked a third-round date with Corentin Moutet, who defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin earlier within the event.
There could also be extra pizza on the menu if he triumphs over the Frenchman, and maybe he’ll persist with the identical toppings he loved after ending Medvedev’s marketing campaign.
“Not too many pepperonis (sic),” Tien mentioned.
“Extra simply cheese.”
