MELBOURNE, Australia — Tien Learner and Alex Michelsen first met a decade ago while participating in youth tennis tournaments in Southern California, with only a year and a half separating their ages. Now, at 19 and 20 years old respectively, they’re not just friends and gaming buddies who often play Fortnite together; they are both set to compete in the fourth round of the prestigious Australian Open. This marks their inaugural appearance at such a late stage in a Grand Slam event, showcasing their development as athletes.
“It’s truly remarkable that we can share this experience. Our lockers are adjacent, so we see each other before and after our matches, which makes it feel more familiar so far from home,” Tien remarked. “If someone had told us a couple of years ago that we’d reach this point, it would have seemed unbelievable. It’s hilarious how life has unfolded.”
Tien made headlines by coming through the qualifying rounds last week, becoming the youngest player to advance to the second week of the men’s draw at the Australian Open since a young Rafael Nadal triumphed in 2005 at age 18.
Michelsen had long anticipated Tien’s success. “When we were younger, my friends and I would marvel at how good Learner was,” he recalled, noting Tien’s early accomplishments in older age groups. “He showed remarkable talent as a 10-year-old competing against 14- and 16-year-olds and holding his own. We have been close friends since we began training together in 2021.”
In the third round, Tien defeated French player Corentin Moutet with a straight-sets victory, clocking in at just 2 hours and 49 minutes—significantly shorter than his previous match, which extended into the early morning hours against Daniil Medvedev, the former U.S. Open champion.
Michelsen is thrilled about Tien’s performance. “He is playing at an incredible level,” he commented, playfully adding, “Maybe I get 1% of the credit for that, since I practice with him daily.”
Another frequent practice partner from California, Marcos Giron, expressed pride in their achievements at such a young age. “It’s inspiring to see how well they perform,” said Giron after his match against the number one seed, Jannik Sinner. “They each have their unique styles, but they are both outstanding players with exceptional court awareness.”
As part of a resurgence for American men in tennis, two other seeded players have also reached the fourth round—No. 12 Tommy Paul, 27, and No. 21 Ben Shelton, 22. This marks a significant moment, as it is the first time in 21 years that four American men have reached the last 16 in consecutive Grand Slam tournaments.
Shelton expressed optimism for the future of American tennis, stating, “With so many talented players emerging, it’s becoming increasingly evident.” On the upcoming day, Paul was poised to take on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, while Michelsen would face the eighth seed, Alexander de Minaur of Australia, Tien was set to compete against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, and Shelton was scheduled to play against France’s Gael Monfils.
“It’s no surprise to see them where they are,” remarked Tien’s coach, Eric Diaz. “We always believed that Learner would reach this level, just like we saw Alex breaking through.”
