Learner Tien Explained

Learner Tien
Residence:Irvine, California, United States
Birth Date:2 December 2005
Turnedpro:2023
Plays:Left-handed (two-handed backhand)[1]
College:University of Southern California
Coach:Eric Diaz
Careerprizemoney:US$ 222,014
Singlesrecord: (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Singlestitles:0
Highestsinglesranking:No. 231 (19 August 2024)
Currentsinglesranking:No. 231 (19 August 2024)
Usopenresult:1R (2022, 2023, 2024)
Doublesrecord: (at ATP Tour level, Grand Slam level, and in Davis Cup)
Doublestitles:0
Highestdoublesranking:No. 754 (20 November 2023)
Currentdoublesranking:No. 934 (12 August 2024)
Australianopendoublesjuniorresult:W (2023)
Frenchopendoublesjuniorresult:QF (2023)
Wimbledondoublesjuniorresult:2R (2022)
Usopendoublesjuniorresult:2R (2022)
Updated:20 August 2024

Learner Tien (born December 2, 2005) is an American tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 231 achieved on 19 August 2024. He also has a career-high doubles ranking of No. 754 achieved on 20 November 2023.

Early life

Tien was born in Irvine, California to Vietnamese parents. His first name, Learner, is inspired by his mother's profession - a math teacher.[2] His sister is named Justice after his father's profession – an attorney.

Tien started playing tennis as an infant, and won his first tournament at the Racquet Club of Irvine at the age of 5.[3]

Junior career

Tien had a very successful career as a junior, compiling a 76-23 win-loss record and reaching two junior Grand Slam finals, at the 2023 Australian Open and the 2023 US Open, culminating with a ranking of world no. 4 in singles. He also reached the world no. 4 ranking in doubles, compiling a 36-18 win-loss record and winning the 2023 Australian Open, partnering with Cooper Williams.

Junior Grand Slam singles results

Australian Open: F (2023)
French Open: SF (2023)
Wimbledon: QF (2022, 2023)
US Open: F (2023)

Junior Grand Slam doubles results

Australian Open: W (2023)
French Open: QF (2023)
Wimbledon: 2R (2022)
US Open: 2R (2022)

Professional career

2022-2023: Junior National champion, Major debut

At just 16 years old, Tien won the 2022 USTA Boys 18s National Championship, which earned him a wildcard into the main draw of the 2022 US Open. This made him the youngest player to compete in the men’s singles main draw at the US Open since a then 16 years old Donald Young (also the champion at Kalamazoo) played in the 2005 US Open and also the first player aged 16 to compete since Zachary Svajda in 2019.[4] He lost in four sets to 32nd seed Miomir Kecmanović.

In August 2023, he received a wildcard into the 2023 US Open but lost to Frances Tiafoe in the first round.[5]

2024: First Challenger title & ATP wins & quarterfinal, top 200

In July, he also received a wildcard for the 2024 Cranbrook Tennis Classic where he lifted his maiden Challenger title.[6] At the end of July, two weeks later, he made again the quarterfinals at the 2024 Chicago Men's Challenger and reached the top 250 in the rankings on 29 July 2024. He reached his second Challenger semifinal of the season defeating eight seed Hong Seong-chan. A week later, he also made the quarterfinals at the 2024 Lexington Challenger but lost to Hugo Grenier.

He secured a main draw wildcard for the US Open by winning the US Open wildcard challenge.[7]

Ranked No. 231, he qualified for the main draw at the 2024 Winston-Salem Open and defeated fellow qualifier Tristan Schoolkate and upset ninth seed Fábián Marozsán[8] and Thiago Seyboth Wild to record his first three ATP Tour wins and reach his first quarterfinal in his career. He became the youngest American ATP tour-level quarterfinalist since Brandon Nakashima in 2020 (in Delray Beach). As a result he climbed close to 40 positions in the singles rankings to the top 195 on 26 August 2024.[9]

ATP Challenger and ITF Tour finals

Singles: 9 (8–1)

Legend
ATP Challenger Tour (1–0)
ITF WTT (7–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (8–1)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1M15 Fayetteville, USWTTHard Toby Samuel3–6, 3–6
Win1–1M15 Irvine, USWTTHard Quinn Vandecasteele7–5, 6–2
Win2–1M15 Norman, USWTTHard (i) Duarte Vale7–6(8–6), 6–2
Win3–1M25 Columbus, USWTTHard (i) Jacob Fearnley2–0 ret.
Win4–1M15 San Diego, USWTTHard Karue Sell6–7(6–8), 6–2, 6–2
Win5–1M15 San Diego, USWTTHard Alafia Ayeni6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–4
Win6–1M15 Rancho Santa Fe, USWTTHard Matthew Summers6–3, 6–1
Win7–1M15 Lakewood, USWTTHard Govind Nanda6–3, 6–3

Doubles: 4 (4–0)

Legend
ATP Challenger Tour (0–0)
ITF WTT (4–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (4–0)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (0–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1–0M15 East Lansing, USWTTHard (i) Alex Michelsen Joshua Goodger
Emile Hudd
6–4, 6–3
Win2–0M15 Irvine, USWTTHard Bryce Nakashima Joshua Goodger
Matthew Summers
6–4, 6–2
Win3–0M25 Austin, USWTTHard Edward Winter Sebastian Gorzny
Brayden Michna
4–6, 6–3, [10–2]
Win4–0M15 San Diego, USWTTHard Sebastian Gorzny Robin Catry
Braden Shick
1–6, 6–3, [10–1]

Junior Grand Slam finals

Singles: 2 (2 runner-ups)

ResultYearwidth=150TournamentSurfacewidth=150Opponentwidth=150Score
Loss2023Australian OpenHard Alexander Blockx1–6, 6–2, 6–7(9–11)
Loss2023US OpenHard João Fonseca6–4, 4–6, 3–6

Doubles: 1 (1 title)

ResultYearwidth=150TournamentSurfacewidth=150Partnerwidth=150Opponentswidth=150Score
Win2023Australian OpenHard Cooper Williams Alexander Blockx
João Fonseca
6–4, 6–4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Learner Tien. ATP Tour. January 27, 2023.
  2. Web site: Irvine teenager Learner Tien finds positives after loss at U.S. Open tennis tournament. August 30, 2022. The Orange County Register.
  3. Web site: Elliott: Learner Tien's rise has tennis world noticing Southern California left-hander. July 16, 2023. Los Angeles Times.
  4. Web site: New Kalamazoo Champ Learner Tien To Join Elite Group of 16-Year-Olds To Play The U.S. Open. World Tennis Magazine. August 15, 2022 . August 17, 2022.
  5. Web site: Five Things To Know About Learner Tien. 27 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Tien Wins Cranbrook Tennis Classic, Earns Maiden Challenger Title. 8 July 2024.
  7. Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien have clinched wild cards into the @usopen. 12 August 2024. Tennis_Now. 1823124459043299783.
  8. Web site:
    1. NextGenATP Tien continues dream ATP debut, ousts Marozsan in Winston-Salem
    . 20 August 2024. 20 August 2024.
  9. Web site: Michelsen, Tien fly #NextGenATP flag in Winston-Salem. 21 August 2024. 21 August 2024.