Can anyone stop Student Tien?
That wasn’t a question anyone expected to ask when the Australian Open started, but it might be asked now. After all, this 20-year-old American player completely destroyed Daniil Medvedev, who won the Aussie Open three times, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 in the fourth round.
Another former Melbourne finalist, Alexander Zverev, gets his next crack at Tien in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. This is their third meeting after splitting the first two last season. Tien won 6-3, 6-4 on the hard courts of Acapulco before Zverev won the clay court tournament 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 at Roland Garros.
The proverbial rubber match should be good, because both guys have been outstanding so far these two days.
Tien needed five sets against compatriot Marcos Giron in the first round, but has won eight straight sets heading into the quarters after knocking out Medvedev, Alexander Shevchenko, and Nuno Borges. This time the world No. 29 took out two bagels and a breadstick, and only one set – the tiebreaker against Borges – was more competitive than 6-4.
Zverev opened with four-set victories over Gabriel Diallo, Alexandre Muller, and Cameron Norrie before beating Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday. The third-ranked German is now 35-11 in Melbourne with one runner-up finish (last year), two semifinal attempts, and one quarterfinal result.
Although the head-to-head result on clay can be thrown out the window as Tien is a novice in that area, this is still a match that should go in Zverev’s favor. One, a 28-year-old left-handed owner. He is an incredible 38-1 in his last 39 games against lefties. In addition, Rod Laver Arena plays slower than other courts. Zverev has the firepower to hit in those situations; Tien doesn’t want to. Finally, this is Zverev’s 40th Grand Slam quarterfinal; This is Tien’s first time.
The underdog will probably make this tournament as he is playing well, but Zverev has to improve.
Pick: Zverev at 4
