Every clash between Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien promises a thrilling showdown. And, to reignite their fierce on-court rivalry, they came face to face once again at the 2025 ATP Shanghai Masters in a R16 battle. This time, the Russian finally conquered the storm to score his first win against the 19-year-old Tien. As Medvedev basked in the Shanghai spotlight, he admitted how he felt after defeating Learner Tien.

In a confession after his battle with Learner Tien, Daniil Medvedev confessed, “I’m happy I was able to win cuz I almost feel like I’m traumatized by playing him, I keep getting him in my draw all the time. He’s an unreal player. Yes, he makes errors but in certain moments he plays simply unreal..I’m just happy I won somehow, I don’t even know how I did it.” His voice carrying the fatigue of a man who had fought himself as much as his opponent. The Russian had finally scored his first win over Tien in three attempts this season, surviving a 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 6-4 epic that stretched 2 hours and 52 minutes. The victory secured his third Masters 1000 quarterfinal of 2025 and, perhaps more importantly, lifted a psychological weight that had hung over him all year. 

Moments after securing a win against Tien, with sweat still glistening on his face, Medvedev turned toward the Rolex Shanghai Masters camera and flashed that signature mix of wit and weariness. “I don’t want to leave [the] best city in the world yet,” he said, half-smiling, half-breathless. His words carried both affection and defiance, as if to declare that Shanghai, and its roaring crowd, would not see him leave just yet. Not after this kind of fight.

Medvedev and Tien’s rivalry has already become one of 2025’s defining stories. Earlier in the year, Tien stunned Medvedev in a five-set thriller at the Australian Open, then again in Beijing, where the Russian’s body betrayed him. 

Trailing 0-4 in the final set, Medvedev had been forced to retire at the China Open, his legs cramping violently under the relentless pace. That memory lingered like a scar. And as the Shanghai heat bore down, history threatened to repeat itself.

Under conditions so brutal that seven players had already retired mid-match this week, Medvedev found himself again in a physical war. Early in the second set, he called to his team for pickle juice, a desperate bid to fight off the cramps. He raced to a 3-0 lead and even held a break point for 4-0, but his movement began to stiffen, his energy dipping as Tien clawed back. By the time the tiebreak arrived, Medvedev’s body seemed to lock, yielding him just one point.

But when all seemed lost, Medvedev’s serve turned into his lifeline. Having edged the opening set in a pulsating 75-minute tiebreak, he steadied himself for one final push. The third set became a test of will more than skill, and Medvedev answered it with a champion’s heart. Through frustration, pain, and near-collapse, Medvedev’s grit never wavered. His composure, often mistaken for coldness, proved to be his greatest weapon against Learner Tien.

Next up, he faces seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who earlier defeated Nuno Borges. But tonight, in Shanghai’s humid night air, the story belongs to Medvedev, a man who conquered cramps, and still found the strength to smile.

Daniil Medvedev expresses frustration with the chair umpire

On Wednesday, the stadium thrummed with intensity. Medvedev’s serve became his dagger, slicing through tense moments with ruthless precision against Tien. However, during a changeover, Medvedev’s composure cracked after another code violation. Frustration surged as he lashed out at the umpire, saying, “All my life, I’ve been serving & waiting for Rafa for 55 seconds. And you give me a code violation on the first occasion. I played Rafa 5 times, there was not one time I was ready to serve and he was ready to return. He didn’t get one time violation.”

His words, sharp and dripping with irony, cut through the air and instantly became the moment of the match. Despite the disruption, Medvedev managed to refocus on the contest, and close out the match.

Now, amid the chaos and controversy, a bigger story brews. With Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and several stars missing, the path stands wide open. 

For Medvedev, this might just be his moment to roar again: to seize the spotlight and stand victorious at the Shanghai Masters.