Match Report
Tien advances to first ATP Tour final after Medvedev retires in Beijing
19-year-old is second-youngest player to reach Beijing final
September 30, 2025
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Learner Tien holds a 7-5 record against Top 20 players.
By ATP Staff
Learner Tien advanced to his first ATP Tour title match on Tuesday at the China Open in Beijing, where he became the second-youngest finalist in tournament history. The 19-year-old rallied from 3-5 down in the second set against Daniil Medvedev, eventually advancing 5-7, 7-5, 4-0 after the 29-year-old was forced to retire due to injury.
The #NextGenATP American Tien was competing in his maiden tour-level semi-final and looked down and out when he trailed 1-4 and 3-5 in the second set. However, he capitalised on some Medvedev errors in the closing stages of the second set and then benefited from the 29-year-old’s lack of movement in the decider to advance after two hours and 26 minutes. Medvedev struggled to track down the balls in the third set, seemingly cramping.
“I was down 3-5 and 2-4 in the second and clawed my way back,” Tien said. “I didn’t think anything was wrong with him and then he came out of the bathroom break kind of limping, so I was not sure if he was cramping or if he was injured as he had tape on his leg. I think it was cramping and I have been there and it is not fun. All the best to him and it is not how you want to come through a match but I am happy to be in the final.”
Sinner vs Tien For The Title! 🏆
Who takes home the crown?@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/iB3QwMWwMc
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 30, 2025
Tien now holds a 7-5 record against Top 20 players and is 2-0 against Medvedev in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having beaten the former World No. 1 at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Tien is up 16 spots to No. 36 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is also set to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second consecutive year. The lefty is second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.
Tien will meet World No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the Beijing title match on Wednesday. Tien is the second-youngest finalist in Beijing history behind Rafael Nadal, while he is the third-youngest tour-level finalist this season. Only Miami winner Jakub Mensik and Buenos Aires champion Joao Fonseca were younger.
Medvedev struggled with his movement in the third set and had taping on his right knee. The World No. 18 was aiming to reach his second final of the year and first on hard courts since Indian Wells in March 2024.