Talent has been a catalyst for the breakout success of American teenager Learner Tien in 2025, but experience is also a secret weapon. Every event the Southern California native plays enables him to add to his growing reserve, and with new coach Michael Chang on his team, that process is amplified.
Not only is Tien learning as he goes in his first full season as a pro that has seen him amass 23 victories, including five against the Top 10, but the clever southpaw also gets the additional benefit of having a former Grand Slam champion and veteran of 662 career wins to use as a sounding board.
“This is my first year on tour, so I think every week I’m gaining a lot of experience, playing a lot of new players, playing different environments, just a lot of different matchups,” Tien said after falling to Jannik Sinner, 6-2, 6-2 in Wednesday’s China Open final. “It’s all great, all these experiences I’m getting.
“I’m just trying to take it all in as best as I can. I think weeks like this are great for my development. I think it’s setting me up really well for the rest of the year and next season.”
Tien, who started working with former world No.2 Chang this summer, says that Chang has opened his eyes to a new perspective.
“I’ve never worked with a coach that has played professionally before, not at least at that level,” he told reporters after the Beijing final. “I think the experience he has playing and coaching brings a lot because I’m kind of someone starting off and I don’t have that much experience. To have a coach that kind of has been through what I’m going through currently, kind of knows the day to day, what I could be thinking, how I could be feeling, it’s great.”
Chang doesn’t plan to be a full-time travelling coach for Tien, but he did make the trip to Beijing.
“I think you don’t have to be a good player to be a good coach. I think just the experience he has from playing and coaching previously has just really helped me a lot,” Tien added. “It’s a new perspective that’s really kind of opened my eyes. A fresh face, fresh voice has just been great.”
With Chang or without, Tien has proven to be a quick study on the ATP Tour. He entered 2025 with six career wins to his name, as an unproven teen with a seemingly underwhelming set of weapons. Tien set the tone early, creating one of the biggest upsets of the Australian Open when he knocked off three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in a five-set second-round encounter.
He may not have gargantuan power, but Tien packs a punch off of both wings, and anything he lacks on the power side he makes up for with courtcraft, cunning and his trademark composure.
It all adds up to a career-high ranking of No.36, and a season that could be a stepping stone for bigger things to come.
“You always believe in yourself that you can achieve these things,” Tien said. “You try not to be surprised when it happens. But still when it happens, it feels great. It’s very motivating when you kind of hit these new checkpoints.
“I had some ranking goals and stuff earlier in the year that I’ve already hit. I’m very happy with the progression I’m making.”
