American Learner Tien is first on Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight, against no grander opponent than facing 24-time slam champion Novak Djokovic. The 19-year-old now has a Slam champion in his coaching box.
Michael Chang, the 1989 French Open champion and youngest man to win a singles Slam, is working with the Californian, a representative for Tien confirmed. The ATP Tour first reported the link-up.
Tien and Chang have been working together since Wimbledon, and the rising talent advanced to the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time in his career at the Canadian Open.
He became the youngest American ATP Masters 1000 round of 16 participant since Frances Tiafoe. Tien won his first three Challenger titles last year. A year later, he’s first on for the night session at the U.S. Open.
Khuong Tien, Learner’s dad and first coach, will also be in attendance tonight for the occasion. According to Khuong, he doesn’t watch his son play in person a lot anymore, given Learner’s busy travel schedule.
This will be just the second time since last year’s U.S. Open that Khuong will see his son play in person.