At the Miami Open, Learner Tien, 19, faced off against 18-year-old Joao Fonseca in a lively atmosphere filled with passionate fans cheering for the Brazilian. Despite Tien's calm demeanor amidst the raucous crowd, he showcased his skills, reflecting on the experience of playing younger competitors. Having recently transitioned from collegiate tennis to the professional circuit, Tien's rise has been meteoric, highlighted by victories over top-ranked players. Though he lost to Fonseca, Tien's journey in tennis represents hope for future rivalries among a new generation of athletes.
The crowd was loud. I didn't really mind. Honestly, it makes the match more entertaining when people are more invested in the match, Tien tells me.
You hope that down the road someday, that these matches become rivalries.
The stage is a stark change from where Tien was playing matches just months before.
But the soft-spoken Tien, whose game is most commonly referred to as smart, is composed on the big stage.
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