Qualifier Tien will remember 'surreal' Australian Open forever / Photo: Yuichi YAMAZAKI - AFP
Qualifier Tien will remember 'surreal' Australian Open forever
Teenage qualifier Learner Tien said Monday his debut Australian Open had been "surreal" and he would remember it for the rest of his career.
The 19-year-old became the youngest man to reach the last 16 in Melbourne since Rafael Nadal in 2005, stunning fifth seed Daniil Medvedev, last year's finalist, along the way.
The American's run came to an end at the hands of Italian Lorenzo Sonego in four sets on Monday.
"I came here not really having any expectations," he said after a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat in which he was hampered by a leg injury with his body "a bit broken".
"To have the run that I did is surreal, and honestly, probably a few weeks that I'll remember for the rest of my career."
Tien was one of a trio of teens who upset top-10 players in Melbourne, alongside Brazil's Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik.
"I think the past couple of weeks have just been great for me to know that at this level I can have success," said Tien.
"I haven't really played too many tour events and matches in general.
"So coming here and having the run that I did was obviously great for my confidence, kind of going into my first year where I'm trying to play a full tour schedule."
Tien is set to be propelled inside the top 100 in the rankings, which will open doors for him with direct entry into the Grand Slams rather than having to go through qualifying.
He said dealing with the exposure to big crowds, the media and TV demands in Melbourne had been an eye-opener, but one he embraced.
"I think it's all new. I'm not super used to it. I don't really mind it," he said.
"I enjoy the crowds, the big courts. It's all stuff that, I guess, you always dream of having and experiencing when you are young."
S.Rovigatti--IM
