A fast Learner: How rising star Tien navigated Wimbledon debut against close friend
American tennis is having its latest moment in the sun, and 19-year-old Learner Tien promises to be one of the nation’s shining stars in the years to come.
The teen’s Wimbledon debut on Monday culminated in an impressive 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Nishesh Basavareddy, another US young gun many have high hopes for.
This meeting between the two SW19 debutees was like few matches either have faced, not least due to the scorching conditions on Monday, but it is a match-up both know well.
Two Californians born in 2005, Tien and Basavareddy have plenty in common and are more than familiar opponents.
The two first met on court at Under-8 level and have slowly risen up the rankings together, culminating in both qualifying for 2024’s Next Gen ATP Finals.
It was Basavareddy who first caught the tennis world’s attention from a wider perspective at this year’s Australian Open, impressing in a four-set loss to Novak Djokovic Down Under.
But it was Tien who quickly became one of the stories of the tournament, coming through qualifying to stun Daniil Medvedev in round two, and ultimately progressing as far as the fourth round.
The 19-year-old has since picked up further top-10 wins over Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, the latter coming last week in Mallorca, and now sits at a career-high ranking of world No 62.
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Tien trailed 2-5 in set one, and faced four set points, though he was able to emphatically turn the tables on his friend and on-court foe, his growing experience perhaps working to his advantage.
“It’s never easy playing someone that you’ve known for a long time, that you’re good friends with,” said a relaxed Tien in his post-match press conference.
“But I honestly just think that it’s cool we got to play each other here on this stage. We’ve been playing for a long time through juniors, national tournaments, challengers.
“To play here is really cool. I think if you told both of us a long time ago that this would happen, we would both be really happy.”
Having twice reached the quarter-final of the junior event at the All England Club, the 19-year-old can now claim to be a main draw match winner at the most famous tournament in tennis.
Watching Tien close up, it is clear that there is more power and force on his groundstrokes than many give him credit for, or that watching him on TV would suggest.
However, it is also clear that his strength lies in his tactical ability, which is remarkable for someone so young, and his impressive all-court guile, a particularly dangerous tool on the natural surfaces.
Tien had never played a tour-level grass match before 2025 and had a 3-3 record coming into Wimbledon, though his quarter-final showing in Mallorca suggests he has potential on the surface.
“I think it could suit me pretty well,” commented Tien.
“In the start, it was pretty tough, especially the movement, going from clay to grass – and there’s obviously not grass in California, where I can go and practice.
“Coming here, I got to Stuttgart [for the Stuttgart Open] two days before my match, hit like two times before my first round. It’s pretty tough right off the bat.
“But I think, day by day, the more I play, it’s been coming a lot easier to me, and I can definitely tell with stuff like the movement and how the ball bounces, I’m just getting a lot more acclimated to it.”
Tien faces an intriguing test next against Nicolas Jarry, a former top-20 star forced to come through qualifying – only to stun eighth seed Holger Rune in five sets.
It will be far from an easy match for the 19-year-old, but it is another test that feels passable.
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