Learner Tien (born December 2, 2005) is an American tennis player. He has a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 232 achieved on 5 August 2024. He also has a career-high ATP 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)
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 July 2024, 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 weeks 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]