Learner Tien has been told there is something stopping him reaching his full potential.
Tien enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025, climbing from outside the top 120 to inside the top 30 after winning his first ATP title.
The American has continued this momentum into 2026, with Tien thrashing Daniil Medvedev to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal in Melbourne.
However, his run came to an end in the quarterfinals, where Tien was beaten by Alexander Zverev, and former world number one Mats Wilander has suggested that something is holding the 20-year-old back.
Mats Wilander suggests Learner Tien’s biggest weakness
Zverev beat Tien, 6-3 6(5)-7 6-1 7-6(3), and was able to break the American’s serve three times in the match.
Tien’s serve has been highlighted as a weakness in the past, and Wilander has suggested it is the one thing preventing him from becoming one of the best players in the world.
“The third set to me just goes to show that Learner is only 19 [20] years old and it also goes to show that Sasha Zverev is number three in the world, into three Grand Slam finals,” Wilander said when reflecting on the match for TNT Sports.
“There was no let down at all in Zverev’s game early in the third set but Tien came back in the fourth set and showed again how complete a player is at such a young age and if he had a big serve just like Sasha said in the interview there if Tien had a big serve, from the baseline he’s one of the best players in the world, and Zverev maybe wouldn’t have won this match without the big serve of his own, so really fun to watch him. He can hit winners from everywhere.
“But when Zverev starts being gutsy and serving down the tee and in the ad-court. That’s when he’s hitting those spots. He’s unplayable in his own service games.”
Where will Alexander Zverev finish 2026 ranked?
Learner Tien pinpoints the two biggest improvements he wants to make
It is not like Tien is unaware of the glaring weakness in his game, as he also pinpointed the serve as something he wanted to improve in his post-match press conference.
The world number 29 also highlighted his physicality as something he was not satisfied with right now.
“I mean, I think my serve can improve,” said Tien. “I think a lot of things can improve. I think all-around I can still get better in a lot of areas.
“You know, physically, I wouldn’t say I’m close to, you know, where I hope to be one day either, but I think weeks like this are good to test myself. I get a lot of takeaways from winning and losing these matches. I think it’s great. It just really sets me up to come back and be even better the next time I play.”
The Australian Open is the best Grand Slam… discuss!
Although his run in Melbourne has now come to an end, Tien is now confirmed to rise to a career-high ranking of world number 24.
Tien will now have a couple of weeks off, as he now heads back to the States ahead of his scheduled tournaments in Dallas and Delray Beach.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
