“Oh yeah, I remember being really happy. I don’t know, my mind was in a million places, but mostly happy.”
The American has come a long way over the past year and is now world No. 29. He has another win over Medvedev since last year’s Open due to retirement, but the Russian won the last match they played in Shanghai.
Student Tien after winning his third round on Friday.Credit: AP
“We played three times. I mean, they were all wars. I think I served three times a game,” Tien said.
“I think we both make a lot of turnovers. We both don’t give up too many free points. Naturally, I think that makes the rallies very long and the games very long.”
“Both of us don’t make it easy for our opponents. So naturally we don’t make it easy for each other. We both have to work really hard to get points and matches. I think the matches kind of drag on.”
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz continued his pursuit of a career Slam by beating France’s Corentin Moutet 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 to book a fourth-round meeting with American Tommy Paul.
Carlos Alcaraz won his third round against Corentin Moutet.Credit: Alex Koppel
Paul has beaten Alcaraz twice, but not since 2023. However, Alcaraz’s last three wins against the American have been on grass or clay.
“It’s always an interesting game,” Paul said. “Playing Carlos is always a big challenge. He can really do anything on the court. Lightning fast. I mean, he’s like the standard that everybody’s trying to catch up to now.”
“But you have to go into it with enthusiasm, be ready to do it, be ready to bring your best level, believe in yourself.
“That’s something I bring to the table every time I play Carlos. I believe I can win every time I go there. Without that, you go there without a goal.”
In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenkova battled to overtake Austria’s Anastasia Potapova but managed it in straight sets after two thrilling tie-breaks.
Sabalenkova will face Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in the fourth round.
“It was a tough match. He played really incredible tennis. I don’t know. I just tried to hang in there. I tried to fight,” Sabalenka said.
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“I’m very happy with my mentality in the match today. I think the one thing I got on the court today, the one thing that really helped me win.”
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