AUSTRALIAN OPEN: American Tennis Dominates as Teenager Learner Tien Stuns the Field
MELBOURNE, Australia - In a stunning display of American tennis prowess, the Australian Open saw a surge of red, white, and blue flags on the scoreboard as the men's draw entered the second week. Two early twenty-somethings, Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen, and a 19-year-old who looks even younger, tore through the competition.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN: American Tennis Dominates as Teenager Learner Tien Stuns the Fi
Tien, a teenager making his Grand Slam debut, had a remarkable journey. Down a set and a break in the first round of qualifying, he dusted off Corentin Moutet of France in three sets, saying, "To now be in the second week feels a little crazy." Michelsen got there first, beating No. 19 seed Karen Khachanov in three sets.
The American women also made their mark, with Emma Navarro and Madison Keys advancing to the second week in three-set victories. Coco Gauff, Tommy Paul, and Keys had already secured their spots earlier in the tournament.
However, Tien and Michelsen's success was the most unexpected. Michelsen, 20, has past experience, reaching the third round in Melbourne last year and winning first-round matches at the U.S. Open in 2021 and 2022. But his current run, knocking off two top-20 players in three matches, is unprecedented.
Tien, a two-time national junior champion, had played only two Grand Slam main draw matches before this week. He beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli of Argentina in five sets, then faced fifth seed Daniil Medvedev for five sets and nearly five hours, pushing the Russian to the limit before falling just short. In his next match, Tien overcame Moutet, who battled through apparent hip pain to make the teenager earn his victory.
"I didn't really know what was going on with him," Tien admitted. "He was moving around and hitting some big shots, so I just tried to stay focused and adapt to the situation."
As the tournament continues, Tien and Michelsen will aim to keep the American momentum going, taking on new challenges in the second week of the Australian Open.