Tommy Paul has described Learner Tien as one of the best players in the world ahead of their upcoming match at the Delray Beach Open. The 20-year-old American has impressed with recent achievements, including a quarter-final run at the 2026 Australian Open. Paul anticipates a challenging encounter with the rising star.
Learner Tien, a 20-year-old rising talent on the ATP Tour, has earned high praise from Tommy Paul prior to their matchup at the Delray Beach Open in Florida. Paul, reflecting on Tien's rapid progress, stated, “He’s obviously really turned it on in the past year or so. He’s undoubtedly one of the best players in the world now.”
Tien, currently ranked World No. 23, has had a strong start to 2026, highlighted by reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open. He previously won the 2025 Next Generation ATP Finals and the Moselle Open, and now aims for his third ATP Tour final. Tien expressed satisfaction with a recent victory, noting, “Last year I already lost here in a third-set tiebreak, so it’s nice to get the win now, especially after losing the second set and being down 5-3 in the third; it’s a great feeling.”
Regarding his career aspirations, Tien remains focused on development rather than specific targets. “I don’t have any specific goals, I just want to keep improving and this US tour is the place where you want to play well in every tournament,” he said. He has dedicated significant effort to enhancing his serve, adding, “I’ve spent a lot of time improving my serve and it’s still in progress... the improvements are already noticeable in some matches.”
Paul, who has yet to face Tien on court, described him as “an exciting player to watch” and acknowledged the difficulty ahead: “I haven’t played him yet, so we’ll see how he is to play, I’m sure it’s not going to be easy. But I’m going to do everything I can to get ready for that match.” Tien also reflected positively on his Australian Open experience, saying, “When I returned to the Australian Open this year, it didn’t feel like a year had passed... I always enjoy playing in Melbourne.”
This encounter at the Delray Beach Open underscores Tien's emergence as a formidable presence in men's tennis.
