OMNIUM BANQUE NATIONALE

August 13, 2026

Learner Tien

Press Conference

B. SHELTON/L. Tien

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the press conference of Learner Tien. First of all, sorry, Learner, today's match didn't go your way, but what made Shelton today so hard to defeat out there?

LEARNER TIEN: Yeah. It was a tough match. I thought, you know, he didn't start the match that great, but I thought after the first couple of games he really started playing really well. Off the ground he was really solid.

And I thought he was serving really well. I had, I don't know, three or four looks in the first to get a break early, and I didn't get a point any of those times. So I just think that he was so just in general.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Was it a big that you had, not pictured, but kind of expected of him, and how does the way you play compared to what you had envisioned?

LEARNER TIEN: I mean, I think you kind of always know what to expect when you play him. He's going to serve well. You know he's going to hit big from the ground. I think it's just a matter of how well he's going to execute on that day.

I don't think I played as well as I would have liked to today, but I think that he played a great match, and there were some moments where, I think in the second set, I got down an early break, so I kind of wasn't able to put much score pressure on him. But there were some moments where I kind of got to 30-30, to deuce on his serve, and he came up with good points, and yeah, I mean, did a good job of holding me off in those moments, so, yeah.

Q. Obviously it's not the result that you want today, but you still made it to the semifinal in Montreal. Overall this week how proud are you of your performance here in this city?

LEARNER TIEN: It's a good week for me, for sure. I kind of came into this week not playing very well.

A lot of things didn't feel great. I didn't really feel comfortable with certain shots that I feel like usually I always kind of have down. So it was a good week for me just to get matches in, to get some wins under my belt.

I think just getting some extra reps during the week, getting to play more matches and it's progress, and I'm happy with the week.

Q. Obviously you had the taping on the arm. Did you feel a bit more fatigued as the tournament progressed a bit more? How was it tonight specifically?

LEARNER TIEN: I've been trying to manage it for maybe like three -- maybe long than three weeks. It's kind of just always been there.

I was supposed to play doubles this week. I ended up not playing, which is good for me.

It's just kind of been nagging at me. Sometimes I warm up and I don't really feel it, and then towards the end of practice I start to feel it. And then sometimes I feel like if I really go for a serve, like something bad will happen.

And I've been doing my best just to manage it, and but it's been irritating and it's just kind of been there. I've kind of found a way to play through it this week, but it's not ideal I'd say.

Q. Just to follow up on that, what's the next step? Do you have to step down for a couple of months or weeks to rest or what is the plan?

LEARNER TIEN: I don't know. I think if it's something that isn't serious, that I won't injure it further, if I play through it, I mean, I love to play.

I mean, I always do just try to go out and play no matter how I'm feeling. That's just kind of how I am. I always to finish matches; I always want to play matches, whether something is hurting or not.

So I'm always going to go out and play, if I'm able to, if something bad won't happen if I play through it.

I'm going to take a couple days off now. I don't think I play till Sunday in Cincy. I've kind of just been managing it the last few weeks, and I think a couple days off will be good for it.

Q. You mentioned you tonight want to, but were you close at all to be unable to play?

LEARNER TIEN: No. I think I'll always finish the match, if I'm able to. I'll always play. I'll always finish the match.

Today was a big match, and I'm never not going to play these matches or never not going to pull out of these matches.

If I have to serve underhand every point, I still would have stayed out there playing. But I think that's just kind of how I am, and when I have the opportunity to play, I'm always go to play if I can.