Follow us on Google Discover It’s proved to be a brilliant first season on the ATP Tour for Learner Tien, and he looks set for a really exciting career.
Tien still has some improvements to make to truly polish his game, but he’s showcased some really good form on the Asian swing.
Tien showed his mettle at the China Open, coming from a set down to progress in three of his four matches, before losing in the final to Jannik Sinner.
Sinner gave Tien some advice after the match, and it does feel as though a star has been born from the United States.
Tien beat Daniil Medvedev on the way to that final, but the week later at the Shanghai Masters, the Russian got retribution by knocking him out at the last 16 stage.
Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty ImagesRobbie Koenig shares what he finds incredible about Learner Tien
Medvedev and Tien are developing quite a rivalry, and the pair have met three times so far this year.
Australian Open – Tien beat Medvedev – Round Two – 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6China Open – Tien beat Medvedev – Semifinal – 5-7, 7-5, 4-0 RETShanghai Masters – Medvedev beat Tien – Last 16 – 7-6, 6-7, 6-4
Tien is enjoying his maiden year on the ATP Tour and currently holds a very respectable number 36 in the world rankings heading into the closing stages of the year.
Koenig believes that it’s time for people to start taking more notice of Tien rather than Joao Fonseca, who seems to be getting big plaudits in his first year.
He told the Inside-In podcast: “He’s unbelievable from a set down. How many times do we talk about him doing that in brutal conditions, from a set down three or four times in Shanghai, he had to come back from a set down a lot, players serving for the match against him, and he just keeps on doing it.
“People have been talking about Fonseca a lot because he’s got such a big game. These guys are almost the same age, they’re both teenagers.
“If memory serves, Tien’s wins against top 10 or top 20, it’s third best I think, his win-loss record against the top 10. You know that’s just incredible. Why aren’t we speaking about that a little bit more?
“The guy is just a silent assassin and for all the moaning Medvedev did in that match, I thought the handshake in the end showed a bit of class because he realises how good Tien is. At the handshake, he reiterated what a player Learner is and how much respect he has for him.”
Tien’s impressive record vs top 10 players
In his maiden year on the tour, it’s only natural that Tien has played some good matches and some bad ones.
His record against top 10 opponents has been so good, however, that with five wins and three defeats, only Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz can boast better against the elite.
China Open – Beat Lorenzo Musetti (9)Washington Open – Beat Andrey Rublev (10)Mallorca Open – Beat Ben Shelton (10)Acapulco Open – Beat Alexander Zverev (2)Australian Open – Beat Daniil Medvedev (5)
It showcases that Tien has the mental strength to believe that he can overcome the top players, and he clearly isn’t fazed by playing the best in the world.
Tien looks like a Grand Slam winner in the making
The United States feels like a hotbed of talent at the moment, with a number of players simply emerging through the ranks.
Medvedev has praised Tien in recent weeks, and his performances out on the court in big tournaments aren’t going unnoticed.
Tien does deserve more credit than he currently gets, and he will be aiming to finish his maiden year on the tour with a bit of a flourish.
The 19-year-old hasn’t yet managed to win a tournament on the ATP Tour, but it does feel like a matter of time before he starts to get in the mix with titles.
Tien does need to showcase a little bit more when it comes to playing five-set matches, but that should come with more years he spends playing against the world’s best.
The player possesses all the shots, and next season will be fascinating for the youngster as he looks to progress through Grand Slams at a more frequent rate.