American dream: Learner Tien stuns Alexander Zverev, echoes Roddick’s legacy

19-year-old Learnen Tien is making a reputation for himself in the beginning of the season! The younger American earned notable victories on the Australian Open and Acapulco, writing new pages of tennis historical past. 

Tien surprised Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne. A youngster notched one other high-profile win in Acapulco this week, toppling world no. 2 Alexander Zverev within the second spherical. Thus, Learnen grew to become the youngest American to have crushed a top-3 victory since Andy Roddick in 2001.

Andy kicked off the 2001 season outdoors the top-155, passing 120 rivals on the ATP rating listing by August. Roddick competed on the Canada Masters as world no. 35 and surprised world no. 1 Gustavo Kuerten 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 41 minutes within the third spherical.

Tien DREAM 🙌

The second 19-year-old Learner Tien took out top-seeded Alexander Zverev in Acapulco. #AMT2025 pic.twitter.com/pUpOlPX1fG

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 27, 2025

The younger gun misplaced a decent opener earlier than bouncing again in set quantity two. Andy managed the tempo within the decider and despatched the world’s finest participant packing. Twenty-three and a half years later, one other American teenager ousted somebody from the top-3 firm. 

Tien defeated Zverev 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 28 minutes en path to his second top-5 win of the season. Learnen outplayed the third-time Main finalist on serve and return. The younger gun dropped serve as soon as and stole 41% of the return factors. 

Learnen Tien & Alexander Zverev, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

 

A youngster seized three of six break factors and produced a notable comeback in set quantity two for a career-best win. Zverev struggled to impose his strokes. He sprayed too many forehand errors and trailed 48-24 from the baseline. 

Tien denied two break factors within the fifth sport of the opening set and held within the seventh with an ace for 4-3. Alexander confronted points in sport eight and performed a few free photographs to fall 5-3 behind. Tien served for the set in sport 9 and drew the rival’s mistake, wrapping up the primary a part of the duel in 34 minutes. 

Learnen Tien, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The German saved two break factors within the first sport of the second set with winners. World no. 2 stepped in on the return within the fourth sport and landed a drop shot winner for a break and a 3-1 benefit. Alexander landed a service winner within the subsequent one for a maintain at love and 4-1. 

As an alternative of constructing on that, the highest seed misplaced the bottom. Learnen closed the sixth sport after a deuce and launched his comeback. Zverev missed his likelihood on serve within the seventh sport and fell on the second break level after a compelled error, bringing the younger gun again to the constructive facet. 

Learnen Tien, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The American landed a service winner in sport eight for 4-4. He created a break likelihood in sport 9 and welcomed the rival’s forehand mistake to ship his second straight break and open a 5-4 benefit. A youngster served for the win in sport ten. 

He painted a backhand down the road winner and generated match factors. Tien seized the second after forcing Zverev’s error, sealing the deal in type and getting into American tennis historical past books.