Learner Tien will return to Jeddah where he reached the championships match at the Next Gen Finals in 2024.
Tien made his Australian Open debut after qualifying into the main draw. The 19-year-old US player beat Danil Medvedev in five sets in the second round of the Australian Open after four hours and 49 minutes at the start of the 2025 season to achieve his first top 5 win. He became the youngest player to reach the fourth round in Melbourne since Rafael Nadal in 2005 and the second youngest US player to advance to this stage of the tournament in the Open Era after Pete Sampras.
Last March Tien qualified for the main draw at the Abierto Mexicano in Acapulco, where he upset top seed Alexander Zverev, recording his biggest win by ranking. He became the youngest US player to beat a top 3 player since 2001when Andy Roddick beat Gustavo Kuerten in the third round of the Canadian Open in Toronto.
He also reached the fourth round at two Masters 1000 tournaments in Toronto and Shanghai. He became the youngest US player to reach the round of 16 at Masters 1000 level since Frances Tiafoe in Cincinnati in 2017.
Tien beat Lorenzo Musetti and Danil Medvedev to reach the final at the China Open in Beijing. Tien won his first ATP 250 tournament of the season beating Cameron Norrie in the final. He became the youngest US player to win an ATP Tour title since Andy Roddick.
“I really enjoy those matches, I see them as great opportunities. I don’t think there is a lot of expectation on me to win, especially coming out at the beginning of the year. I just go out, play free, and play well, and I’ve been fortunate enough to come through a lot of them”, said Tien.
Tien ended the season with a 5-3 record against top 10 players. He started the season outside the top 100 and reached a career-high of number 28.
“I do a good job of keeping expectations off myself. I try not to put too much pressure on myself, I just try to come in and enjoy because I am playing all these tournaments for the first time. I’m just enjoying my experience and that takes a lot of weight off my shoulders: I’m able to go out there freely and that helps me a lot. I like to keep my routines pretty similar, but usually playing from place to place it’s a little tough. I do my best to try and keep most things the same when I can”, said Tien.
Former world number 1 player Michael Chang joined Tien’s team in July and played an important role in his growth as a player.
“He brings a lot of experience, a lot of tennis knowledge. I don’t have much experience myself as it’s my first time around, so having someone on my team who really knows how things go, and having that many years, just really helps me a lot”, said Tien.
