Tennis
2026-01-27 - Alexander Zverev vs Learner Tien
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Tennis : Australian Open Quarter Final
Tuesday 27th January 2025 - Scheduled 11:30am
12:30am (British Time)
Preview
Both of these players really impressed in comprehensive Fourth Round matches and they should enter this Quarter Final with a lot of confidence.
The experience edge is most definitely on the side of Alexander Zverev, but Learner Tien is growing on the Tour every passing week and is set for another push up the World Rankings. Last year he made the Fourth Round here, but the destruction of three time former Finalist in Melbourne, Daniil Medvedev, has moved the 20 year old American into his first ever Quarter Final at Grand Slam level.
There are going to be nerves on both sides with the feeling that this is a good opportunity for both and these two players split two matches last year.
It was Learner Tien who won the sole hard court match, but Alexander Zverev beat the American at the French Open on a surface that the World Number 3 is going to be more comfortable than the youngster.
The hard courts are a different story and Learner Tien will have taken a lot of confidence from the manner of the victory over Daniil Medvedev.
There have been a couple of matches where the edges have been much tighter between Learner Tien and opponents he has beaten on his way to the Quarter Final, but overall he has looked good in the conditions. The serve is becoming a bit more consistent with 84% of the games played ending in a hold, and that has really allowed Learner Tien to take a grip of return games, where he has a lot of strengths.
Getting the ball back into play and then outworking opponents is the plan and Tien is comfortable with his defensive capabilities on a court.
Of course he will be dealing with a big Alexander Zverev serve and facing an opponent who feels he is as healthy as he has been since reaching the Final in Melbourne twelve months ago. There will be some pressure on Zverev to try and avoid a long match ahead of what could be a Semi Final against the top Seed, but he will also want to avoid being too aggressive and handing the errors over that Learner Tien will want to feast upon.
Alexander Zverev has been serving very big in the tournament with 72% of service points won and 90% of service games ending in a hold.
Some have criticised the World Number 3 for sometimes being a little passive on the court, but he has been returning with real authority in the run to the Quarter Final and that may be key to the outcome of this match.
The younger player is breaking new ground in Melbourne, but it may still be a little too much inexperience to deal with the occasion and that can help Alexander Zverev to come through in four sets.
Prediction
Experience vs Youth is a feature of Day 10 at the Australian Open in bot of the men's and women's events being played at Melbourne Park.
Once again, the feeling is that the World Number 3 and older head Alexander Zverev is playing well enough to come through a competitive Quarter Final against an improving Learner Tien.
The Pick :
Alexander Zverev 3-1 Learner Tien
