More people are starting to talk about Learner Tien, including his fellow ATP players.
Tien enjoyed a breakout season in 2025, climbing nearly 100 places in the rankings to become a top 30 player after making a run at the Australian Open and winning his first ATP title.
Despite this, there were some suggestions that 20-year-old Tien was being underrated compared to Joao Fonseca.
Tien continues to impress in 2026 and is into the quarterfinals of Indian Wells, with his compatriot Jessica Pegula revealing what she has heard other players saying about him.
Jessica Pegula reveals that players have been praising Learner Tien
Tien played alongside Amanda Anisimova at the Indian Wells mixed doubles event last week, which was won by Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina.
Pegula also featured in this event, and she revealed that this was the first time she had watched Tien playing in person on The Player’s Box Podcast.
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The world number five also heard other players including Fritz, Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul singing Tien’s praises.
“It was cool to see Learner play, I have never seen him in person,” said Pegula. “He is really, very good at tennis. All the guys were hyping him up. They were like Learner is so good at tennis, he is legit, he is the real deal.
“It was funny because someone asked me if the guys were talking s—- the whole team but I was like no, they were gassing people up the whole time.
“Ben, Tommy and Taylor were talking about how good everybody is, which I think people probably don’t realise.”
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What is Learner Tien’s Grand Slam record?
Tien reached the Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this year, which is his best result at a major tournament to date.
The Australian Open is by far Tien’s best Grand Slam tournament, as he has only won one of his seven matches at the three other majors.
This includes his home major at the US Open, where Tien has failed to win any of his four previous matches.
| Grand Slam | Learner Tien’s Best Result |
| Australian Open | Quarterfinal (2026) |
| French Open | First Round (2025) |
| Wimbledon | Second Round (2025) |
| US Open | First Round (2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025) |
There are still over two months to go until the next Grand Slam tournament at the French Open, with Tien’s focus set on Indian Wells right now.
After saving two match points to beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Tien has now set up a quarterfinal meeting with Jannik Sinner.
Sinner beat Tien in the China Open final last year, in their only previous meeting.
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