By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Photograph credit score: BNP Paribas Open Fb
INDIAN WELLS—Learner Tien grew up on Southern California onerous courts and continues shrinking protected house for opponents.
The Twenty fifth-seeded Tien denied two match factors at 4-5 within the decider preventing off Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) thrilling the house crowd in advancing to his maiden BNP Paribas Open quarterfinal.
The 20-year-old Tien continues crafting milestone marks in Palm Springs. Tien is the youngest American man to succeed in an ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal since a 19-year-old Sam Querrey, now a Tennis Channel analyst, did it again on the 2007 Cincinnati.
The left-handed Tien scored his tenth profession Prime 20 win and did it in dramatic vogue.
Serving down match level at 4-5 within the ultimate set, Tien noticed Davidovich Fokina assault internet and was close to the doubles alley when he dipped a devious angled forehand move. The stretched Spaniard shoveled a backhand volley nicely extensive. Maybe Davidovich Fokina, among the finest gamers but to win a Tour-level title, would have been higher off letting the move bounce first and attempt to take it as a half-volley however given his stretched state and the dipping topspin from Tien, you may’t fault him for going for it.
Tien saved a second match level sliding a giant serve down the T ultimately navigating a 10-point recreation to carry for 5-all.
“Clearly two tight factors, each match factors, I imply, first one was an extended rally,” Tien stated. “I don’t truly know the way I hit that final shot. It was perhaps a bit bit fortunate. I wasn’t attempting to hit it that nicely. I used to be attempting to get it down, however I wasn’t attempting to hit that good of a shot.
“So perhaps a bit bit fortunate there. After which I used to be lucky to hit a great serve on the second. Truthfully, after saving match factors going into the tiebreak, simply felt like I used to be taking part in with home cash, nearly, and simply unfastened, actually had nothing to lose.”
Within the tiebreaker, Tien performed with poise, depth and angle draining errors to go up 6-3.
On Tien’s second match level, a drained Davidovich Fokina netted a slice backhand and Tien was by means of in two hours, eight minutes.
Tien cracked 10 aces and saved 4 of 5 break factors in the present day.
The Tien practice rolls on.
One spherical after Tien out-aced big-serving compatriot Ben Shelton 15 to eight in a 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 spherical of 32 victory, he stored calm and struck the corners on essential factors defeating world No. 19 Davidovich Fokina for the primary time.
Tien’s talent mixing deep drives with shorter, sharper angles and his impeccable timing empower him to take time away from opponents.
“What impressed me essentially the most is, I talked to my crew (about this) afterwards, I felt like I didn’t have a spot on the court docket the place I might simply hit the ball and I felt like I used to be out of hazard,” Alexander Zverev stated after defeating Tien within the Australian Open quarterfinals in January. “Doesn’t matter what velocity, doesn’t matter the peak. I felt like if I used to be hitting quick however in his racquet, he was utilizing my velocity to redirect the ball. If I used to be hitting a bit slower, he was taking the ball early, being aggressive himself.”
Tien will should be a quick Discovered and decisive dealing with both world No. 2 Jannik Sinner or Brazilian phenom Joao Fonseca for a semifinal spot.
“Powerful match both means. Each are nice ball strikers,” Tien stated. “Each can actually simply take the racquet out of your hand after they’re taking part in their greatest. I believe they’re taking part in proper now. I believe it’s on serve. Yeah, going to be a very robust match both means.”
Tien’s shrewd court docket sense and sharp shot-making abilities prompted former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, his doubles accomplice within the Indian Wells draw, to reward him as the very best Tennis IQ amongst younger gamers he’s confronted. After in the present day’s dramatic comeback, we requested Tien what he considers his greatest weapons on court docket.
“I believe after I’m at my greatest, I really feel like I’m not making that many errors,” Tien stated. “I really feel like, yeah, my
patterns I’m taking part in are a bit extra unpredictable. I believe that I’m actually putting the photographs form of the place I need to put them.
“I believe, you already know, shot choice is sort of a large a part of my recreation. After I’m taking part in my greatest, I believe that I’m simply hitting my spots nicely and simply executing what I’m attempting to do.”
