'Pretty crazy': Tien youngest since Nadal into Melbourne last 16
The Peninsula
Melbourne: Teenage qualifier Learner Tien said it was pretty crazy after becoming the youngest man to reach the Australian Open fourth round since R...
Melbourne: Teenage qualifier Learner Tien said it was "pretty crazy" after becoming the youngest man to reach the Australian Open fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005 when he overcame Frenchman Corentin Moutet on Saturday.
The American 19-year-old won 7-6 (12/10), 6-3, 6-3 in Melbourne with Moutet collapsing clutching his leg in the third set before gamely carrying on.
The victory extended Tien's remarkable tournament after he stunned last year's runner-up and fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller in round two.
"Honestly it feels pretty crazy to be in the second week. Going through Qs (qualifying)," he said.
No other American man his age has gone so far in Melbourne since Pete Sampras in 1990, with Tien's reward a clash against Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who dispatched Hungary's Fabian Marozsan in four sets.