Learner Tien, Alex Michelsen Make History at Australian Open
American 19-year old Learner Tien and 20-year old Alex Michelsen have made history at the Australian Open, becoming the first pair of American men age 20 or younger to reach the third round at a Grand Slam event since the 2003 US Open (Andy Roddick, 20; Robby Ginepri, 20) and at the Australian Open since 1990 (Pete Sampras, 18; David Wheaton, 20).
Tien, from Irvine Calif., and Michelsen, from Laguna Hills, Calif., are longtime friends and have trained together since 2021.
Tien upset fifth-seeded Daniil Medvedev overnight Thursday into Friday in Melbourne, 6-3, 7-6(7), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6(10-7), becoming the second-youngest American man to ever reach the third round at the Australian Open, following Sampras in 1990. Tien won the USTA Boys’ 18s national championship in consecutive years in 2022-23 and produced a 28-match winning streak at USTA Pro Circuit events in 2024.
Michelsen upset 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round Down Under en route to becoming one of six American men in the third round. Michelsen broke into the Top 50 in August to become the youngest American man ranked in the Top 50 since Sam Querrey in 2007 and is set to make his Davis Cup debut later this month vs. Chinese Taipei.
Overall, 11 Americans, including all five of the women’s seeds, are competing in the third round of singles at the Australian Open:
MEN
(4) Taylor Fritz v. Gael Monfils (FRA)
(12) Tommy Paul v. Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)
(21) Ben Shelton v. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)
Marcos Giron v. (1) Jannik Sinner (ITA)
Alex Michelsen v. (19) Karen Khachanov
(Q) Learner Tien v. Corentin Moutet (FRA)
WOMEN
(3) Coco Gauff v. (30) Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
(7) Jessica Pegula v. Olga Danilovic (SRB)
(8) Emma Navarro v. Ons Jabeur (TUN)
(10) Danielle Collins v. (19) Madison Keys
