Learner Tien reached his first ATP Tour final on Tuesday at the China Open in Beijing after Daniil Medvedev retired in the third set. The 19-year-old advanced with a score of 5-7, 7-5, 4-0, becoming the second-youngest finalist in the tournament’s history.
Historic Achievement for Tien
Playing his maiden tour-level semi-final, the American left-hander trailed 1-4 and later 3-5 in the second set before turning the match around. After two hours and 26 minutes on court, Medvedev, ranked World No. 18, stopped due to injury. He struggled with his movement in the decider and had taping on his right knee. Medvedev was bidding for his second final of the season and his first on hard courts since Indian Wells in March 2024.
Tien’s victory improved his record to 2-0 against Medvedev this year, having also defeated the former World No. 1 at the Australian Open. With this win, he moved his record against Top 20 opponents to 7-5. Tien has climbed 16 places to No. 36 in the live rankings and is on track to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah for the second straight year, currently sitting second in the live race.
In the upcoming championship match, Tien will face World No. 2 Jannik Sinner. His achievement makes him the second-youngest Beijing finalist after Rafael Nadal and the third-youngest tour-level finalist this season, following Miami winner Jakub Mensik and Buenos Aires champion Joao Fonseca. This remarkable journey signifies not just Tien’s talent but also his potential to become one of the leading figures in tennis.
As Tien prepares for the final, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how he will perform against Sinner, a formidable opponent with significant experience. With his recent successes on the ATP Tour, Tien is undoubtedly a player to watch in the future of professional tennis.