Highlights: Tien impresses again to make Montreal quarter-finals

Video credit: SNTV

Becker remains a keen observer of the tennis world, and has been impressed by a young American who has been quietly impressing on ATP Tour for a little while now.It might be the likes of Joao Fonseca and Rafael Jodar grabbing the headlines, but instead it is 20-year-old Learner Tien who has caught Becker’s eye.

The California-born left-hander already has two career titles under his belt, having won ATP 250 events in Moselle last year and at this May’s Geneva Open.

He also had a breakout slam run at this year’s Australian Open, romping past former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round, before falling to Alexander Zverev over four sets in the last eight.

And having reached his first ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final at Indian Wells earlier this season, he is into the last eight again in Montreal, with a winnable clash facing him against Spain’s Daniel Merida Aguilar on Tuesday.

After beating Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante in the last 16, Becker was moved to note his support for Tien.

The German wrote on X: “For some reason [Learner] Tien is flying under the radar with lots of experts….certainly NOT with me!

“He is the real deal, expect big things from him in the near future!”

In comparison to the likes of fellow ‘next-genners’ Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, Tien is not the sort of player to bring the house down with fireworks from the back of the court.

Instead, the current world No. 19 is perhaps more of an Andy Murray-type player, varying his angles, speeds and tactics to move opponents around the court and into uncomfortable positions.

As an example, watch the below rally from Sunday’s clash with Tirante, where a short slice brings the Argentinian to the net, only to be given an awkward volley, and then passed beautifully.

Tien has become the youngest American man to make the quarter-finals in Montreal since Andy Roddick in 2002, but his run in Canada may not be over yet.And with his home US Open on the horizon – and Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both injury doubts – Becker’s bet could be one of the outside candidates at Flushing Meadows.Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.Download the TNT Sports app on iPhone and Android.Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and HBO Max