Aussie tennis legend John Fitzgerald’s 3am interview with Australian Open star Learner Tien after his epic win over Daniil Medvedev goes viral for all the WRONG reasons

Learner Tien’s epic five-set upset Australian Open victory over Daniil Medvedev has been followed by one of the most cringeworthy interviews in the history of the grand slam.  

Tien, a 19-year-old American qualifier, outlasted the world No.5 in an astonishing Australian Open boilover, sending the three-time finalist spinning out of the tournament in an exhausting, early-hours marathon.

With the clock ticking towards 3am on Friday, the Californian teen looked down and out after the fifth seed made one of his trademark comebacks.

However, Tien found remarkable mental and physical reserves to pull off a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (8-10) 1-6 7-6 (10-7) triumph in 4 hours 49 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

The extraordinary contest was interrupted at 2.30am by a six-minute rain stoppage at the most critical juncture with Tien serving at five-all, 15-all in the decider.

Tien has now become a fan favourite because of his incredible win and the incredibly awkward interview he had with former Aussie doubles champion turned TV commentator John Fitzgerald afterwards. 

‘Nineteen-year-olds are not meant to be that good,’ he said.

‘I don’t know what to say to that,’ Tien said as the crowd laughed at his response.

Fitzgerald kept digging himself into a hole as he totally confused the teenager with a puzzling statement.

‘I used to live in Newport Beach so I know where you live, by the way,’ he said.

It left the exhausted Tier looking around the court for any way to get out of the interaction.

Instead of asking his first question, Fitzgerald followed up by making another statement.

‘Goodness me, that is an exceptional effort. You know, it is the first a five-setter has gone to a super tiebreak this year,’ he said.

Finally, came his first question: ‘You don’t know what to say to that either, do you?’ 

‘I was definitely hoping it was not going to go to a fifth set breaker,’ Tien replied.

‘But you know, either way, just really happy to get a win.

‘I know I made it a lot harder than maybe it could have been, but you know, whatever.’

Tien then took control of the interview himself with a funny anecdote about why he blew Medvedev off the court 6-1 in the fourth set. 

‘Losing the third set in a tiebreak was tough, I had match point, and it was a little bit disappointing to see a fourth set,’ Tien said, bringing the interview back on track.

‘But honestly, in that fourth set, I just had to pee so bad, so I was just trying to finish it up fairly quick,’ he added, drawing laughter from the crowd.

‘I also wanted to start the fifth serving, so I scrapped out that game and it all worked out.’

But even then, Fitzgerald cut him off during his speech. 

‘Terrible questions,’ one Aussie Open fan commented.

‘Wow John Fitzgerald is doing a disappointing job of this post match interview with Learner Tien. Utterly uninspired after a very inspiring match,’ posted another.

‘Whatever the Aus Open & Channel 9 pays Jim Courier … pay him double next year. These other commentators are shocking,’ added another.

Sensing the train wreck that was unravelling, the Aussie tennis star just handed Tien the microphone to say what he wanted. 

‘I’ve no idea what time it is but I’m sure it’s really late. Thanks you guys for staying out here,’ Tien said to the hardy crowd that has remained to watch the epic five-setter.

‘I wasn’t trying to think of the match as anything more important than any other match I’ve ever played. ‘