Lorenzo Sonego will play in his first Major quarter-final at 29! Lorenzo is enjoying his career-best Major tournament in Melbourne. The Italian beat Learnen Tien 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in two hours and 25 minutes at John Cain Arena.
The 19-year-old American became the youngest player in the Australian Open fourth round since Rafael Nadal in 2005. He battled past three rivals to reach the second week but had nothing left in the tank against Sonego despite a decent effort.
Lorenzo dominated with his first serve, taking 57 of 63 points while struggling behind the second serve. Tien performed even worse after missing the first serve. The young gun seized one of four break point and got broken five times from 11 chances offered to the more experienced rival.
A chart-topping performance from Lorenzo Sonego!
The 29-year-old Italian qualifies for a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal, defeating a gallant Learner Tien in four sets.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/J5UpE3O95D
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2025
Sonego tamed his strokes nicely and fired 58 winners and 34 unforced errors. They stayed neck and neck in the mid-range and most extended exchanges. The Italian forged a massive 81-48 lead in the shortest range up to four strokes, scoring the win in that segment.
The 29-year-old was off to a great start. He broke a left-hander at love in the second game after Tien’s double fault and held at 30 in the next one for 3-0. They served well in the next five games, with Lorenzo closing the seventh game with a forehand winner.
Lorenzo Sonego, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Sonego served for the opener at 5-3 and faced the first issues behind the initial shot. He denied two break points and squandered four set points. The Italian seized the fifth after the American’s forehand error, taking the opener 6-3 in 45 minutes.
Lorenzo played flawless tennis in the second set and secured two breaks to extend the advantage and move closer to the finish line. Learnen struggled physically and hit a double fault in the third game to suffer a break and fall behind.
Sonego cemented the advantage with a hold at love a few minutes later and closed the sixth game after a deuce with a service winner to maintain the advantage. Tien netted a volley in the seventh game, losing serve and falling 5-2 behind.
Learnen Tien & Lorenzo Sonego, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The American received a medical timeout on his right thigh and continued the battle. The Italian fired a forehand winner in game eight for set points and seized the first with an ace to move two sets to love in front after an hour and 22 minutes.
Learnen found an extra boost early in the third set. He secured his only break in the second game after the rival’s forehand error and held at love for 3-0. The young gun denied three break points in the fifth game and remained in front.
A teenager drew the rival’s mistake in the seventh game, moving 5-2 up and serving for the set at 5-3. A left-hander held at 30 after Sonego’s loose forehand, reducing the overall gap after an hour and 58 minutes. The Italian saved his best tennis for the fourth set.
Learnen Tien & Lorenzo Sonego, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
He barely lost a point on serve and grabbed an early break with a forehand winner in game two. Lorenzo held at love for 3-0 and earned two more break chances in the next one. Tien saved them and held, avoiding a bagel.
Sonego moved 4-1 up with a hold at love and made another push on the return in game six. Learnen netted a forehand after a forced error, getting broken and propelling his rival 5-1 up. Lorenzo served for the win in game seven.
He fired an unreturned serve on a match point, moving into his first Major quarter-final at 29.
Tennis World USA