Medvedev Dismisses Déjà Vu with Tien Triumph in Shanghai R4
Former World No. 1 battles through cramps to claim his first victory over the left-handed challenger.
October 08, 2025
Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev triumphs over Learner Tien in a thrilling match in Shanghai.
By Andy West
Daniil Medvedev showed remarkable resilience to steer clear of a repeat upset against Learner Tien on the hard courts of Shanghai, securing a hard-fought victory at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Wednesday night.
The 29-year-old star fended off late cramps in the second set to defeat the #NextGenATP American Tien with a scoreline of 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-4 in a captivating match at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Just a week after Medvedev had to retire due to a cramp during the decisive set of their semi-final duel in Beijing, the former World No. 1 managed to confront his physical limitations and rally his way to victory this time around.
Meddy’s Moment! 👏 @DaniilMedwed outlasts Tien (7-6 6-7 6-4) in an EPIC encounter to advance into the Shanghai quarter-finals @SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasterspic.twitter.com/Ah3jbLrNUs
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 8, 2025
“The toughest part was knowing that we’ve faced each other twice before, and I genuinely believe he’s an incredible player,” Medvedev remarked. “He may not have a powerful serve, which is crucial in tennis, but here he is, just 19 and already climbing the ranks. I truly respect his talent.”
“He has a fantastic feel for the game. Many players just rely on strength and exceptional serves to stay competitive. Tien, however, plays remarkably well without those advantages. I honestly thought I was going to lose. I felt those cramps creeping back, so I’m just thrilled I managed to pull through.”
In a nail-biting two-hour and 53-minute battle, Medvedev nearly closed out the first set at 5-4 but had to settle for a tie-break win. He stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second set, but Tien fought back and clinched the set through another tie-break as Medvedev struggled with debilitating cramps in his right leg.
Despite looking out of contention, the 2019 Shanghai champion quickly regained his rhythm after the set break and delivered some powerful tennis in the final frame. After a series of self-encouragements punctuated with frustration, Medvedev broke Tien’s serve in the ninth game and sealed the match to earn his first victory in their three encounters.
All three meetings between Medvedev and Tien have been dramatic in nature. At the Australian Open, Tien emerged victorious in a five-set showdown that concluded just before 3 a.m. local time, while their Beijing and Shanghai clashes have been marked by Medvedev’s ongoing battles with his physical fitness.
Having reached his third Masters 1000 quarter-final this season (following Indian Wells and Madrid), Medvedev is set to face off against seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who secured his quarter-final spot by defeating Nuno Borges 7-5, 6-2 earlier in the day.
