ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 6, 2025

Learner Tien

Mixed Zone

L. TIEN/C. Norrie

7-6, 6-3

Q. You're doing fantastic in China. Did you expect that?

LEARNER TIEN: I didn't really know what to expect, actually. I came here for the first time, I haven't really played in Asia before, so I didn't have many expectations. I didn't really know, you know, what the atmosphere or what the courts and everything would be like. But I've obviously really loved it so far.

Q. Since you're a "Learner", what have you learned, the most important thing in China?

LEARNER TIEN: I never heard that before. I think I just have a lot of confidence right now. I've been able to steal some matches where I've been down pretty big. I think that just really feeds my confidence going into these matches, that I feel like I can always find a way through. I think that's the biggest thing.

Q. You fly on the shuttle flight from Beijing to here. I heard that you have some limited time to prepare for Shanghai, but you're still doing well. Talk about the transition from Beijing to Shanghai, because you have to play the first round.

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, I'm really happy with how I've been adjusting so far. I only had one day, I got here late Wednesday night, and then I had like a light day Thursday, and then I had to play Friday and Saturday, so really happy with how I've been adjusting. I've honestly been holding up better than I expected to and, yeah, I'm happy I get a day off tomorrow.

Q. Talk about that first set where he served for it, you broke him, and then you played a very solid tiebreak.

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I had some chances, I was up 4-2, 30-Love on my serve, and kind of let it slip. But, yeah, I was really happy to steal that first set. I mean, should it really have been a steal if I was up 4-2, 30-Love? I don't know. But I'm happy to get through in straights, especially with how much tennis I've been playing.

Q. Talk about the eighth game there in the second set. You saved three break points, which was huge, to go up 5-3, could have been 4-all, and then just in that little sequence.

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, that was massive. I think that really flipped the momentum. If I get broken there, I think I wouldn't be swinging so freely that next game if I didn't hold serve there. So I think that was huge and, yeah, I mean, I'm really glad to scrap that game, yeah.

Q. 9-2 on this swing you're on here. Pretty impressive. Talk about fourth round, maybe playing a guy that you played in the Aussie way back in January.

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I mean, I played him last week, too. It's been a battle both times. We don't really make it easy for each other. I know it's going to be a tough battle if I play him.

I played Alejandro in DC, and he got me good, he beat me pretty bad. So it's going to be a tough one either way. I think they just started, so I'm not even sure what the score is. But, yeah, it's going to be tough either way, for sure.

Q. Nice to have a day off tomorrow.

LEARNER TIEN: Very nice.

Q. Lots of players talk about how humid it is here. You're doing just fine. Is fitness one of the things you are very confident about?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I feel like I can go into these matches being able to kind of last through, no matter what my opponent can throw at me. It's huge for my confidence going out there that, no matter the conditions, I can kind of acclimate and get through these long matches.