Teenage qualifier Learner Tien mentioned it was “fairly loopy” after turning into the youngest man to succeed in the Australian Open fourth spherical since Rafael Nadal in 2005 when he overcame Frenchman Corentin Moutet on Saturday.
The American 19-year-old received 7-6 (12/10), 6-3, 6-3 in Melbourne with Moutet collapsing clutching his leg within the third set earlier than gamely carrying on.
The victory prolonged Tien’s exceptional event after he surprised final yr’s runner-up and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller in spherical two. “Truthfully it feels fairly loopy to be within the second week. Going via Qs [qualifying],” he mentioned.
No different American man his age has gone thus far in Melbourne since Pete Sampras in 1990, with Tien’s reward a conflict in opposition to Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who dispatched Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan in 4 units.
“This has exceeded my expectations, what I hoped for coming into this week,” added Tien. “You go into each match believing you may win, however to be within the second week is superb.”
Tien is one among a trio of teenagers who set the Australian Open alight with wins over top-10 gamers, alongside Brazil’s Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, who’ve each been knocked out since.
In a battle of left-handers, Tien broke early for a 3-1 lead within the first set on the again of an unforced baseline error from Moutet. However the Frenchman levelled at 3-3.
One other alternate of breaks despatched it to a dramatic tiebreak that ebbed and flowed earlier than Tien clinched it 12/10, ending a 72-minute set.
The American broke twice in set two to grab management of the match earlier than Moutet collapsed to the bottom clutching his left leg after serving at 15-0 within the opening sport of the third set.
He bought again up and gamely tried to proceed, however was clearly in ache together with his motion restricted and Tien took benefit to ebook a spot in a maiden Grand Slam final 16.
“I didn’t actually see what was happening… I simply noticed him on the bottom,” Tien mentioned.
“I wasn’t positive what was happening with him actually as a result of there have been some factors the place it appeared like he wasn’t capable of transfer or actually use his legs that a lot in any respect.
“Different factors he was working and scrapping.”
Sinner takes flight into final 16
Defending champion Jannik Sinner was in a ruthless temper as he powered into the final 16 with a straight-sets thrashing of American Marcos Giron.
The Italian world primary dropped a set for the primary time in 14 matches in his second-round conflict in opposition to Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkate. There have been no such wobbles in opposition to the unseeded Giron on Rod Laver Area as he emphatically sprinted residence 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in 2hrs 1min, slamming 35 winners and eight aces.
Awaiting him subsequent is both Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic or Danish thirteenth seed Holger Rune, who will face a participant on a 17-match win streak. That report stretches again to a defeat in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz in Beijing in October.
“Very glad to be within the subsequent spherical,” mentioned Sinner, who additionally received the US Open and ATP Finals amongst eight titles final yr. “Each match has its personal difficulties. Right this moment I felt like he was very strong from the again of the courtroom, he served properly.
“I nonetheless have room to enhance, however each win is nice. Making an attempt to remain there mentally, which I believe is crucial side for us tennis gamers,’ he added.
“However for positive, if I wish to go on on this event I’ve to enhance.”
The 23-year-old, who’s defending a Grand Slam title for the primary time after his five-set win in opposition to Daniil Medvedev in final yr’s ultimate, asserted his authority instantly in opposition to Giron. He broke him on his first service sport and that proved enough to take the set, regardless of making 11 unforced errors, two greater than Giron.
The highest seed bided his time in set two earlier than making his transfer within the fifth sport, working two break factors and taking a 3-2 lead when Giron slapped a forehand vast. The American, who was bidding to succeed in the final 16 at a Grand Slam for the primary time, had no solutions as Sinner dominated the rallies.
A Sinner backhand winner earned him one other break to maneuver 2-0 clear within the third set and all of it over. However the plucky Giron, ranked 46, nonetheless had some struggle left and broke for the primary time within the match to degree up at 2-2.
That riled up the Italian, who broke straight again and made no extra errors in profitable the subsequent 4 video games on his option to victory.
