The China Open sees another setback—but also a huge leap forward for Learner Tien! The rising American star battled through the ATP 500 event, first defeating Francisco Cerundolo in the opening round. He followed that up with a win over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli to set up a showdown against World No. 9 Lorenzo Musetti. The stakes were high, but fortune has been favoring the teenager.
On Monday, Tien braced himself for a tough clash with Musetti. The Italian came out strong and claimed the opening set. But Tien stormed back to take control in the second. In the deciding set, disaster struck for Musetti.
Trailing 4-6, 6-3, 3-0, the Italian was forced to retire. It marked the fourth mid-match exit at the China Open, sparking concerns over player health. But for Tien, it was a breakthrough moment—he advanced to his very first ATP Tour semifinal.
The 19-year-old has been sensational this season. Learner Tien hit a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 48 in August and carries a 19-20 win-loss record for the year. He’s already collected multiple top-10 wins, including upsets over Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, and made the fourth round of the Australian Open. His rise has included a run to the round of 16 at the National Bank Open. And now, he’s gone one step further—he’s in the semifinals of the China Open!