BEIJING -- Learner Tien's incredible 2025 season reached its apex at the China Open this week. The 19-year-old American engineered the best week of his career by storming into his career first ATP Tour final. After defeating No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev for the second time this season in the semifinals, Tien became the youngest man to make the China Open final since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
Tien had yet to break the Top 100 when the 2025 season began. Now he will leave Beijing ranked at a career-high No.36. On Wednesday, his bid to become the youngest ATP champion since Andy Roddick in 2002 was thwarted in the China Open final by an in-form Jannik Sinner. The Italian captured his second China Open title with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
"It's been a great week," Tien said. "Obviously would have loved to go all the way. Regardless, I'm super happy with the week. It's my first semifinal, my first final, so I'm very happy with the progress I'm making.
"It's my first time playing here in Beijing and my second week in China. It's been great. The support I felt every match has been great. I've really been enjoying it."
Accompanying Tien on his first trip to China was none other than 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang. The former World No.4 joined Tien's coaching team ahead of the US Open. Tien has been happy to soak in Chang's knowledge and experience.
"I've never worked with a coach that has played professionally before, not at least at that level," Tien said. "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."
Tien was born in Irvine, California to Vietnamese parents and played one semester of collegiate tennis at the University of Southern California before turning pro last year. This is his first full season on the professional tour, and the crafty all-court teenager has already tallied five Top 10 wins.
Every week has brought new experiences for Tien. He has stayed humble and grounded, not allowing his rapid on-court development and accomplishments distract him from the learning process.
It's been great. I haven't seen too much of the city. I haven't, like, really eaten out just because of the scheduling. I was fortunate to be winning, so my days were pretty long, pretty busy.
So far the two weeks I've been in China, the food has been great. I've really enjoyed that. The hospitality has been amazing. Just the experience so far has been great. Everything's pretty exciting because it's my first time here. I've really enjoyed it.
Tien had grand plans to experience Beijing away from the National Tennis Center, but his non-stop winning kept him busy.
"So far the two weeks I've been in China, the food has been great," Tien said. "I've really enjoyed that. The hospitality has been amazing. Just the experience so far has been great.
"Everything's pretty exciting because it's my first time here. I've really enjoyed it."
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