Learner Tien celebrates Australian Open five-set win over Daniil Medvedev with pizza

In a grueling five-set battle that stretched until three in the morning, you just defeated three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev. How are you going to celebrate after beating a former world number one?

Pizza, of course! At his post-match press conference, a famished Learner Tien was devouring a pepperoni pizza as he reflected on his 6-3, 7-6(7/4), 6-7(8/10), 1-6, 7-6(10/7) victory over Medvedev. “It’s either a celebration or it’s just binging… It feels better, it’s more of a celebration, for sure,” Tien told reporters.

Tien had reason to treat himself, having emerged victorious after a 4-hour, 49-minute slugfest on Margaret Court Arena. The result means the 19-year-old qualifier – ranked No. 121 in the world – is the youngest American man to reach the third round since Pete Sampras in 1990. “I think coming into today, I just wanted to treat it like any other match I’ve played,” Tien said. “Not put too much importance on today’s match, feel like it’s the most important match of my life or something. I think just take the positives from this match and look forward to the next one and keep going.”

Prior to this week, Tien was 0-3 in Grand Slam matches. His other five-set match at tour level came in the first round at Melbourne Park, when he defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli in a match that nearly reached four hours. Tien had the opportunity to defeat fifth-seeded Medvedev in straight sets, but failed to convert a match point in the third set. However, the missed opportunity didn’t faze the laid-back Californian. “It wasn’t super difficult,” Tien said. “I mean, I didn’t even touch the ball on that match point. It’s not like I had a huge look. I don’t know how long that set was, it was very long. I got broken at one point, then I broke back. Saved a set point, then lost a long tiebreak, then I had a match point myself, it was a little tough. Honestly, I was just telling myself before the match, if I could get out of there two sets to one, I’d be happy. It wasn’t a bad position to be in.”

Tien’s victory has booked him a third-round match against Corentin Moutet, who defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin earlier in the day. If he overcomes the Frenchman, there might be more pizza on the menu, perhaps sticking with the same toppings he enjoyed after ending Medvedev’s campaign. “Don’t put too much pepperoni,” Tien said. “Just put a lot of cheese.”