Key Takeaways
- Learner Tien defeated Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in the second round of the 2026 US Open.
- Tien described facing Monfils in his retirement year as a “very special matchup” and acknowledged feeling pressure to close out the third set.
- Reflecting on his debut as a 16-year-old, Tien recalled earning $80,000 from his wild card: “I felt like, you know, that could last me a lifetime. I felt like I was so rich.”
Learner Tien navigated an emotional and high-stakes clash under the lights in New York, sweeping past French veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to book his spot in the third round of the 2026 US Open.
Facing an experienced crowd favorite who is competing in the final stretch of his career presented a distinct psychological test for the young American, who had previously clashed with Monfils in Montreal.
“Yeah, uh never an easy match, I think,” Tien said of the encounter. “When you’re playing someone that’s kind of on their retirement year, I think especially against him, it’s very special matchup for me. I think playing him in Montreal definitely helped with just the nerves and seeing him on on the other side of the court.”
Even with two sets in hand, closing out the contest demanded composure. “Still in the third set, I I felt a little bit of of pressure just to close out the match,” Tien acknowledged. “But happy to get through and and you know, grateful to share the court with him again.”
Embracing the electric New York crowd
The night session brought its trademark rowdy atmosphere, but Tien remained completely unbothered by movement in the stands and the sustained buzz of the arena. Instead, he welcomed the noise as a vital element of the spectacle.
“I obviously it was it was loud but I was expecting you know a lot of energy, a very loud crowd,” he explained. “So um I’m glad I’m glad, you know, the atmosphere was like that. I think it it makes the matches a lot more enjoyable.”
Asked whether the persistent hum made it challenging to track the ball, Tien shrugged off the distraction entirely. “I mean, I expected a very rowdy rowdy rowdy court, rowdy match,” he said. “I didn’t expect the crowd to be be for for me uh necessarily, but uh I’m glad they they really, you know, came out in full force tonight and um it was cool to to play in the atmosphere.”
Looking up to Kei Nishikori
With several celebrated figures approaching the end of their playing days, Tien was asked about former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, against whom he competed last year and whose former coach, Michael Chang, coaches Tien.
“I think growing up I I watched him play,” Tien recalled. “It was cool to to get a chance to to play against him last year uh I’m pretty upset that I lost and I’ll never get to play him again probably, but um just happy I got to play him last year.”
Nishikori’s legacy as a trailblazer continues to hold profound meaning for the American. “Watching him when I was growing up, watching him make the US Open final um you know, there not that many Asian players on tour, so obviously seeing, you know, an Asian player having a lot of success when you’re growing up is is very cool,” Tien remarked. “And getting a chance to play against him is is very special.”
Progress through the summer hardcourt swing
Tien’s path to New York involved overcoming early-summer struggles, beginning with a sluggish week in Washington, D.C., and an arm issue that forced him to dig deep in Montreal.
“I felt like I was playing very poor in DC,” he admitted. “And even, you know, when I arrived in Montreal, I was feeling like I was playing, you know, just very poor level of tennis. And it was a great building week for me that week. I wouldn’t say I was playing like exceptional tennis, but I was, you know, finding a way to win. And I was kind of also nursing a little bit of an arm issue.”
By the time he reached Cincinnati, his form had rebounded noticeably, providing momentum heading into Flushing Meadows. “Now I I feel like I’m I’m playing well,” Tien said. “I’m happy with kind of how I’ve been improving and you know, obviously not every week is is going to be amazing, but I’m I’m happy with kind of how I’ve built on even the weeks I’ve lost early.”
Reflecting on a dizzying 16-year-old debut
Now in his fifth year at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Tien also looked back on his tournament debut as a 16-year-old, when he faced Miomir Kecmanovic while fighting an unexpected illness.
“My first ATB event being the US Open, it was it was a little overwhelming,” Tien said. “I think I got sick like a day before my my first round, too. It didn’t really hit me for that first round. It kind of hit me when I was playing juniors, but a lot going on that week. It was a lot to kind of handle at that age, especially.”
Beyond the physical toll and the disorientation of navigating the grounds, the financial milestone of that wild-card opportunity left an indelible impression on the teenager.
“I remember getting the wild card and and knowing I made $80,000 and I felt like, you know, that could last me a lifetime. I felt like I was so rich,” Tien remarked with a smile. “Like I just like I just provided enough for like my grandchildren. And um it’s it’s been, you know, this is my fifth year now, so it’s it’s been a while. And looking back, I mean, it was very overwhelming for me.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtnOO_Loopc
ATP U.S. Open - Learner Tien's projected path
Tien at the U.S. Open, ranking, and results in 2026
Ranked no.15, Learner has achieved a 29-15 record in 2026. The American is currently playing at the U.S. Open where he conquered the world no.41 Nuno Borges 6-4 6-1 6-2 and the world no.311 Gael Monfils 6-3 6-4 6-3.
Learner Tien will play the world no.18 Jakub Mensik in the 3rd round. Their actual record is 1-0 for Tien.
The American has won 1 title in 2026 in Geneva.
Gael Monfils in 2026
Now the world no.311, Monfils played his last match on the 3rd of September when he surrendered to world no.15 Learner Tien 6-3 6-4 6-3 in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This season the French player achieved a 5-11 win-loss record.
Learner Tien and Gael Monfils played each other only twice. Their actual record is 2-0 for Tien.
