ROLAND GARROS

May 26, 2026

Learner Tien

Press Conference

L. TIEN/C. Garin

6-0, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Learner, congrats on the win today. After winning your title, I saw in your victory speech you were talking about Michael and just saying that sometimes he wants this more than you do. You referred to it. I'm not exactly sure what you said. I just wanted to know and from your opinion, how important is it to have that kind of support, that kind of energy, that kind of passion from a coach?

LEARNER TIEN: I think it's been very helpful. I think it's super important. What I was saying in that speech was that at the beginning of the clay season, there were some very, very tough, long days. I think he was more motivated than I was in certain moments, but I think his support has been great.

I definitely didn't start the clay swing playing as well as I am now. You know, he was always very supportive. I think that's a big reason why I've been doing better.

Q. When that happens, when you went through those moments, how did it get worked out? Was it conversations after practice, or was it just unsaid things that you could feel?

LEARNER TIEN: It was more unsaid things, I think. You know, there were some disappointing matches. I think some tough practice days where things just weren't really clicking, but he was super patient the whole time.

He really just helped me get a few things down that have been very, very crucial, I would say.

Q. There are more and more players that are going through university, through NCAA. Do you think it will become a common path for players, and how does it help in building your career?

LEARNER TIEN: I wouldn't say there's one way to go. I think it's a great option for people that aren't quite ready to make the next step, whether it's physically or mentally, if they're just not mature enough yet to go out and play.

Me personally, honestly it was kind of scary for me to go out and play. I always had belief in myself that I could have success, but I think just at that age it was a bit daunting for me just to put everything aside and go travel and play tennis right away.

I think it's a great tool for the people that need it. Not everyone needs, obviously, and some people are ready just to make the transition very seamlessly right away.

I think it's obviously helped a lot of guys to take a little extra time to develop. I think it's great, and I don't think, depending on the player, it's a place you get worse by any means. I think it's definitely a great option.

Q. The other night on one of the broadcasts, I don't know if it made its way back to you, but McEnroe said that he thought you were the American who was best suited to go really, really far on clay. Not necessarily this year, but ultimately that your game really suited it. I was wondering if you had any reaction to that and if you feel like your game does suit it in any way?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I mean, I would never go out and say, you know, I have the best shot out of anybody, because I think that the U.S. has a great crop of young guys that are really making big strides, especially on the clay.

I think that the results are obviously going in the right direction for Americans on clay. Me personally, I think that I do have a game that can suit the clay. Obviously it's not something that I grew up playing on, but with more time and just I think more experience on the clay, I do think that I can have success on the surface.

But I think for a lot of Americans that's the case. A lot of us just haven't really been exposed to the surface, and I think just the more we get on and the more matches we play, it just helps a lot.

Q. Can I just ask what specifically about your game do you think allows you to think that, that does produce a nice fit with this surface?

LEARNER TIEN: I think, in general, I think I construct points well, which is pretty big on this surface. I think that my movement is definitely getting better.

I think that just patience, shot tolerance, I think just willing to go out there and work these points and not really, I guess, bail out of these points. Sometimes you just kind of have to take your medicine and play these long rallies, and that's something I'm willing to do.

So I definitely think that in the future with more time, more experience that I can definitely have some success on the surface.

Q. Just on that, about the kind of building points, how much do you think you've learnt about point construction and knowing, I guess, when to pull the trigger and when knowing that you've earned the position to, say, hit a dropshot or you don't need to go for the big winner right away?

LEARNER TIEN: I'd say it's definitely gotten better than even last year. I think just obviously the shot selection is a little different than playing on a hard court. You have more options or more factors, like what the surface is going to give you, the movement aspect of it.

I think finding my way to win on the surface and kind of finding out what shots work for me, and I guess certain shots that I'm used to playing on a hard court, for example, which might not, you know, be as effective on the clay. Maybe playing a little less of those and finding different types of shots to kind of construct the point.

I think I've gotten a lot better at that, and it's helped me a lot.

Q. Is it weird playing in a match like today where it's so kind of up-and-down and kind of one-sided scorelines? Is that a different dynamic to if you're playing, say, three tiebreak sets?

LEARNER TIEN: I think both are difficult in their own way. Physically obviously playing four tiebreaks is tougher than playing four sets that I think were less than two hours.

I think mentally maybe it's a little tough to play in these up-and-down matches just because it's a lot of momentum changes and maybe a bit streaky from both guys, you know, when you're the one that's kind of pulling away just trying to keep your foot on the gas and trying to stay focused, because I feel like momentum can shift very fast, especially on the clay.

You never know when some of these games just turn into these dog fights, and momentum can flip just very fast. I think the focus aspect was very important today.

Q. Do the conditions play a part, because there have been a few matches with those kinds of scorelines these last few days, like with it being so hot? Does that make a difference? Do you think some players subconsciously let sets get away, or is that not a consideration?

LEARNER TIEN: I haven't watched too much of other matches or seen even that many scorelines, but no, I'm sure the heat is playing a factor. I mean, we're playing three-out-of-five. I can't imagine it's easy to play a full five sets for four and a half hours in this heat.

I definitely think that some of these sets that are going by quick, it's just someone has a good start. I think some of the other guys are okay just to let the set go by and save themselves physically, but I'm not 100% sure, honestly.

Q. Learner, you can correct me if I'm wrong on this, but we had a conversation when you were in juniors a while ago, and you talked openly about motivation and maybe you weren't quite sure about the commitment and how you felt about it. I think you had already passed through that phase. It was probably when you were really young. I just wonder if you remember that time, and if so, having gone through that, how much does it kind of help you now that you're at the age you're at and older and to have that behind you and kind of to know where you stand? I just wonder if you recall feeling that way and if that was indeed the case at one time?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah, I mean, I would say it was a long time ago, but I'm really at the point now where I really love what I do. I really enjoy it.

This is, quote, unquote, my job, so I feel very fortunate to be in the position I'm in just to travel and play tennis as my career. I definitely love what I do, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Q. In your experience was it good to have the questions, though, to clarify it in your head and now they're behind you and you're fully committed? It's very normal for everybody to have those kind of questions around pretty much everything they go through in life, I would say.

LEARNER TIEN: I don't know. I don't know, because there's definitely other players that have just loved tennis ever since they were a few years old, and it's definitely worked out for them. I think everyone is different.

For me, it happened to work out. I wouldn't say that that's the case for everybody that feels that way, that they'll eventually find their love for the sport by any means.

Whether that was negative or positive for me, I'm not really sure, honestly.