Daniil Medvedev overcame a spirited performance by Learner Tien to advance to the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals.
Medvedev overcame cramp – and a heated exchange with the umpire – midway through the match, eventually defeating the 19-year-old American 7-6, 6-7, 6-4.
Wednesday’s titanic clash marked the third occasion Medvedev and Tien had met on the ATP Tour this year.
In their previous two meetings, the young American had emerged victorious: at the Australian Open and most recently at the China Open.
Despite the loss, Tien is undoubtedly one of the most promising youngsters on Tour, and this was recognised by Medvedev after the contest.
Daniil Medvedev says Learner Tien has been his ‘toughest opponent’ outside of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner
Medvedev is an excellent hard-court player, and he proved this yet again during his contest against Tien.
The Russian turned his attention to the American during the post-match press conference, showering the young star with praise.
Tien is the youngest player in the ATP top 50 after his first ATP Tour final appearance at the China Open.
Medvedev said: “I don’t have the exact words, but in my opinion he’s an unbelievable tennis player.
“When I say “tennis player”, I talk about everything together. He doesn’t have serve, and serve is the most important in modern game.
“He doesn’t have amazing serve, and without this he manages to play unbelievable at 19 years old. At 19 he has so much time to progress, and in my opinion has big future.
“You never know what happens, tennis is a tough sport, but I’m happy that I managed to win against him, because probably outside of the big guys like Sinner, Alcaraz, and the big three, maybe the toughest opponent I have faced.”
Daniil Medvedev’s love-hate relationship with Learner Tien
One reporter in the press conference asked the Russian a follow-up question: “It was a match with many stages.
“Can you maybe put into words the different stages? Because you were up, you were down, you were struggling physically, mentally. What was the journey like in stages?”
The Russian replied: “That’s how he plays. If I would manage the three matches I played, play when I was on top of my game against him throughout the whole three or five sets, I would probably win the match.
“But that’s what he makes you play. He makes you play one more shot. He makes you run.
“When you are at the net sometimes you feel like you won the point, and suddenly he makes a passing shot out of nowhere. At 30-Love he fights, you have 30-all again. That’s what he does.
“I like it in a way. I hate to play against him, but I like the way he fights on the court. It was not easy today like any other match against him.”
The former world number one is scheduled to play Australian star Alex de Minaur in the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals, after the ‘Demon’ defeated Portuguese player Nuno Borges in the round of 16.
Medvedev and de Minaur have contested 11 matches on the ATP Tour; the Russian leads the head-to-head by seven wins to four.
However, de Minaur demolished Medvedev in their last clash, defeating the Russian 6-2, 6-2 in Monte Carlo this year.
