No. 3 Alexander Zverev, last year’s Australian Open runner-up, advanced to the semifinals on Tuesday with a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 7-6 (3) win over America’s Learner Ten, making her first appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
20-year-old Tien, who is coached by former French Open champion Michael Chang, was bidding to become the youngest man in 34 years to reach the last four in Melbourne. Instead, it was the 28-year-old Zverev who reached the semi-finals in Australia for the fourth time, the most by a German man.
“The student from the baseline played incredibly,” Zverev said. “I don’t think I’ve played against someone who plays so well from the baseline in a long time.
“I don’t know what Michael Chang did to him in the offseason, but it’s incredible. Without my 20s, I probably wouldn’t have won today.”
Zverev reached his 10th Grand Slam semi-final thanks to 24 aces and just one double fault – which he served when he had six match points in the decisive tiebreak.
Zverev and Tien were given the advantage of playing under the roof at Rod Laver Arena; the first of four quarter-finals scheduled for Day 10 – between Aryna Sabalenka and Iva Jovic – was played outdoors, despite predictions that temperatures in Melbourne would peak at 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius). There was no play on the outdoor courts all afternoon.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz faced Alex De Minaur in the nightcap. Alcaraz has won six Grand Slam titles, but has never won the Australian Open. The past two years he lost in the quarterfinals.
The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.
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