AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2025

Learner Tien

Press Conference

L. TIEN/D. Medvedev

6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: We'll go straight to questions.

Q. Did you get a pizza?

LEARNER TIEN: I did.

Q. How does that feel?

LEARNER TIEN: I said this earlier, it was either going to be celebratory or a binge eat like cope. It feels better it's more celebratory, for sure.

Q. How are you feeling? Are you in a slight state of shock, stunned? Pinching yourself?

LEARNER TIEN: I mean, honestly it hasn't really set in yet, I don't think. I'm just pretty happy to be off the court. I don't think I've played a match that long ever, or even spent that much time on a tennis court straight.

Honestly, I'm just glad to be off. Obviously really happy, but I don't think it fully hit me yet.

Q. How difficult was it to set aside the third set and the match point?

LEARNER TIEN: It wasn't super difficult. I mean, I didn't even touch a ball on that match point. It wasn't like I had a huge opportunity. I don't know how long that set was, it was long. I was down a break, broke back.

To lose in a long breaker after saving a set point, then having my own match point, was a little tough. Honestly, I was just telling myself if going into the match, if I could start two sets to one, I'd be thrilled. It wasn't a bad position to be in.

Q. What was your mood prematch? Possible to pull this off?

LEARNER TIEN: I was just trying to treat it like any other match. I think belief is a big thing in succeeding and winning in general. I always go on the court believing that there's a chance I can win.

I wasn't trying to think of the match as anything more important than any other match I've ever played. I was just going to go out there, have fun, see what I could do.

Q. Have you had a chance to have any contact with anybody, family, text or phone call?

LEARNER TIEN: I haven't. I haven't. I was just going to do all that when I got back to my hotel. I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a few hours with the adrenaline. I can just knock all that out once I'm all in bed and turning in for the night, so...

Yeah, I haven't even really touched my phone yet really. Just kind of turned on my phone, scrolled through all the notifications on my lock screen. Didn't read any because I was doing whatever after the match. Yeah, I'll knock all that out pretty soon.

Q. Did seeing the other teens who have had success here, did you think why not me too? Is there any sort of sense of this can be our time along with Fonseca, Jakub...

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I think it was definitely pretty inspiring. They obviously got those wins before I played my match today. Just trying to almost join them. I think just seeing them, the wins they've had this week, just adds a little bit more belief that it's possible.

Q. Are you aware you're the youngest since Pete Sampras since 1990 to reach the third round of the Australian Open? How do you bounce back after this? There's another match in a couple of days. Is it going to be easy or difficult to put this to one side and look at that?

LEARNER TIEN: I mean, I didn't know that about the age thing actually. That's nice to know.

I think coming into my match today, I was just trying to treat it like any other match I ever played. Not putting too much importance on just this match today, feeling like this is the biggest match of my life or anything like that.

I think just taking the positives from this match and looking forward to the next one and moving on.

Q. How proud or satisfied are you of your physicality? After first round quallies, you had some back issues. Are you at all surprised you've been able to hold up in these long matches?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I mean, these are my first two five-setters. I don't count Next Gen because of the format there. I played probably eight, nine hours in my last two matches combined. It's definitely a confidence boost to know I can last in these matches, just because I haven't had any five-set experience prior to this week.

It is nice to feel that I can play these more physical matches and get through 'em.

Q. How are you feeling physically now?

LEARNER TIEN: I have so much adrenaline right now, I have no idea. It will probably hit my like a tank tomorrow morning.

Q. What kind of pizza are you eating?

LEARNER TIEN: Plain pepperoni. Not too many pepperonis. More just cheese.