Tian stuns teen-qualified trainee Daniil Medvedev, as Jannik Sinner returns to the Australian Open

Teenage learner Tian stunned last year’s Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev in an epic match that ended at around 3:00am on Friday after defending champion Jannik Sinner came back to take his place in the third round. Taylor Fritz was an emphatic winner in his quest for a first major title, but 18-year-old Joao Fonseca was knocked out in a five-set thriller. The 19-year-old American Tian emerged after four hours and 48 minutes of hard work to defeat Russian Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (8/10), 1-6. 7-6 (7/10).

In the next round, Tien, ranked 121st, will face Frenchman Corentin Moutet, ranked 69th, after the biggest win in his young career.

Tian had defeated Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli in five sets in the first round to claim his first Grand Slam win at the fourth attempt.

“I was definitely hoping we wouldn’t go to a fifth-set tiebreaker,” Tian said.

“But I’m really happy with the win. I know I made it a lot harder than it could have been, but whatever.”

It was a painful exit for Medvedev, the former world number one, who has lost three of the last four finals at Melbourne Park, including to Sinner in 2024.

Before the late-night drama, top-seeded Sinner dropped a set for the first time in 14 matches when he lost the opener to Australian wildcard Tristan Schoolkett.

But he regained control after a slow start to beat the world number 173 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena.

It was Sinner’s 16th straight win in an ominous sign for next opponent Marcos Giron.

“It’s always difficult to play against someone I don’t know well,” said the 23-year-old Italian, who also won the US Open last year. “He was playing much better than I was at the beginning.”

“I have to be very happy with my performance and never take things for granted. Very happy to be in the next round.

“I can improve, yes, but I’ll accept that.”

Fritz cruised into a third-round clash against Gael Monfils with a brutal display of power punching and has lost just eight matches in the tournament so far.

The fourth-seeded American defeated Chilean Cristian Garin 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 at Margaret Court Arena in 82 minutes.

Fritz only surrendered five bouts to beat Jenson Broxby in the first round and only spent three hours on the court.

“It’s always nice to go out and play a match like this,” said Fritz, who reached the US Open final last year.

The hugely talented Fonseca was tipped for the summit by Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, who said he sees shades of himself in the Brazilian.

But after stunning ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets in the first round, the teenager lost to Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-. 3 to frustrate the noisy Brazilian fans.

Sonego’s reward is to face Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, who defeated 17th seed Frances Tiafoe in five sets as well.

Swatik is merciless

In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek set up a showdown with Emma Raducanu in the next round.

Swiatek defeated Rebecca Sramkova, ranked 49th in the world, 6-0, 6-2, while British Raducanu qualified for the third round for the first time at Melbourne Park, by defeating Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5.

“Well, it’s definitely going to be a tough match,” said Swiatek, ranked second in the world and winner of five Grand Slam titles but never a singles champion in Melbourne, as she edged out Raducanu.

“Emma can play great tennis. We all know that.”

Raducano is aiming to clinch the world rankings after suffering injuries in 2024 and return to the form that earned her the US Open title in 2021 as a qualifier.

“It will be a very good match for me,” the 22-year-old said.

Elena Rybakina, the sixth seed and former Wimbledon champion, defeated American wildcard Iva Jovic in straight sets.

Emma Navarro, seeded eighth from the United States, will next face Ons Jabeur after going through three sets to defeat Wang Xiu, ranked 108 in China.

Tunisian Jabeur, who reached the Grand Slam final three times, suffered an asthma attack in a 7-5, 6-3 win over Colombian Camila Osorio.

“It was very difficult to breathe,” she said, adding that she probably would not have continued playing if she had lost the first set.

Fourth seed Yasmine Paolini defeated Mexican Renata Zarazua to win 6-2, 6-3, despite the early tension.

Djokovic, Alcaraz, the women’s top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will play in a tough match on Friday.

Neither do Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, who are on track to clash in the next round if they win.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)