ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2026

Learner Tien

Press Conference

L. TIEN/F. Diaz Acosta

7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Learner, congratulations. A great victory today. How were you able to get over the line in that fifth set?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I obviously was kind of down and out in the fourth, but just really had a lot of belief that I was still in the match, that I could come back. I think physically he was struggling towards the end of the fifth, so I just really tried to get over the finish line.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. A lot of us were distracted by what was happening on Chatrier as you were making your comeback. What were you able to do down a double break in that fourth to get yourself out of there?

LEARNER TIEN: I was in a lot of return games, honestly. I was struggling a bit on my own service games. I think he was putting a lot of pressure on me on my service games. He was really just finding a lot of forehands, I think, especially off my second serves, and he was just really making it tough on me.

I wasn't putting in that many first serves, so obviously he was getting pretty good looks, pretty much every point. I don't think I held serve until 2-4 in the fourth.

So honestly, I mean, it was just really holding serve. I really did have a lot of confidence that I could break. The biggest thing was just kind of trying to find my rhythm on my service games.

Q. No Alcaraz, obviously. And no Sinner now. And you have a lot of players in your age cohort who are doing pretty well this sort of next, next, next generation, whatever it is. How do you guys rate yourselves? Are you ready for prime time, so to speak? Do you think of yourselves as contenders for the big titles? Why do you think you guys are doing so well so quickly at this point?

LEARNER TIEN: I mean, I can't speak for anyone else, honestly, but from kind of what I feel, I feel like all the young guys coming up, they want to prove themselves. I think a lot of the guys coming up really have a lot of belief in themselves that they belong at this level, and that they can challenge the top guys for these events.

I think that's huge. I think just believing is a huge first step, and I think a lot of these younger guys, myself included, are just very eager to go out and prove themselves.

Q. Is there anything style-wise you think -- I know you guys are completely different players, in some ways -- but in terms of how you all sort of attack points, construct points, see the game, is there anything that you pick up on that sort of makes you guys ready at this point in your careers to stay with the best players, people who have been at this for five, six, seven, ten years?

LEARNER TIEN: I think all the younger guys, I mean, everyone is a different player, everyone wins a different way. I think, like I said, I think a lot of us, you know, feel like we're ready and feel like we can contend at this level. I think everyone obviously has their own way of playing and their own reason why they are so successful. I can't really put my finger on one thing that everyone really does that works.

Q. How's your own confidence level on this surface changed over the last two weeks, basically, with getting to the third round here and obviously with what you did in Geneva?

LEARNER TIEN: I mean, it's skyrocketed, for sure. Especially matches like these, playing against guys that are great clay courters, just getting through these tough matches, I mean, a lot of confidence match to match. Even some of the matches that I lost, I think that, you know, I was doing a good job, just taking a lot of positives away from every time I stepped on the court, win or lose.

It's been, you know, I would say, baby steps in getting to where I am now, and I'm far from where I want to be on this surface still.

But I am very happy with how I have improved, and I definitely see the results of my hard work, I think.

Q. You played him in China on hard last year. You know who you're playing next? Cobolli next. You beat him on hard court in China, won the previous meeting. How do you think clay might change that factor, being in a major?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I mean, completely different match. Obviously I try to take as much confidence from our previous meeting. Again, different surface, different format. It's been, I don't know how many months, seven, eight months.

You know, we have both improved a lot since then. He's obviously had some great results in general, and on clay, as well. It will be a tough match, for sure.

Q. Five-setters have been exceptional for you. Four now at slams. You have won them all. A lot of times it's really difficult for young guys to excel in that format, in matches that grinding. What do you think has been working for you? How do you think you have been able to do it?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I try to take as much confidence from my previous matches. I try not to think about it too much. Honestly, I don't want to jinx myself or anything.

You know, I have been fortunate to come out on the winning end of my previous five-setters, today included, and I think, you know, a good bit of it is mental. Obviously once you get to a fifth set, both guys are feeling the nerves aspect of it and the physical aspect of it.

I think I have done a good job in just kind of staying focused. Obviously both guys kind of see the finish line, and it's just kind of who can make that big push to the finish line first. Fortunately, I have been able to be the one out in front.

But nothing really in particular that's really helped me.

Q. With regards to your clay game overall, do you feel like you're enjoying the surface more? Do you feel like some of the patterns, maybe, that you weren't connecting, some of the way your shots were coming off your racquet or the things that were that were happening, puzzling at first, have all been clarified in your mind?

LEARNER TIEN: I think there has been a lot of progress, for sure. I wouldn't say, you know, I'm now like a perfect clay player and I'm content with where I am. Obviously I'm very happy with how I've improved on the surface, and I think I have made pretty grade strides, especially since last year.

I think there is definitely long ways to go. I still am seeing improvement match to match, and I think a lot of it is just a willingness to keep learning, even when the results are getting better, just still knowing that there is a lot that can get better.

Q. Your coach is a pretty good clay court player. Are there two or three things about clay court tennis that he's kind of hammered into your head or tried to hammer into your head?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I mean, nothing, like, groundbreaking, I'd say. Obviously we've put in a lot of work on, you know, my shot selection, and, you know, what to do in certain situations, you know, what ball to hit in a certain, you know, from a certain position or, you know, how to play against these different players.

You know, in general, like, my movement, I'd say my shot selection is probably the biggest thing.

But overall, I think obviously he sees the game really well, I think he sees my game really well, and he was really able to pick apart what things could I get better. We put a lot of time into that, and it's definitely paid off.

Q. Obviously there has been a lot of talk about Jannik Sinner and for a good reason. All the matches he won, he was considered a huge favorite in this tournament here. Now with him out, there will be a lot more players mentioned as possibilities and having chances. Is that something you sense in yourself, maybe in the locker room already, how much is there a clear vibe shift when that name is suddenly no longer in the draw?

LEARNER TIEN: I mean, I got off the court a little bit before that match finished, so I haven't really seen that many people or gotten a great vibe of, you know, the reaction of it.

Obviously I saw him talking about how he wasn't feeling great. You know, it's tough to see, but I think it's part of the sport. It's obviously not the way you want to see someone go out, for sure.

But I think everyone obviously feels like the draw has opened up a bit. For me personally, I know I have a tough match ahead of me, so it's not like I'm too focused on that.