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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 18, 2025

 
Learner Tien

19-year-old Learner Tien toppled Corentin Moutet to become youngest player to reach the round of at the Australian Open since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

Photo Source: Getty

Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien have known each other since they were nine years old. This year in Melbourne, the Southern California kids can celebrate their friendship and at the same time a massive milestone.

Ten years after Michelsen, from Alison Viejo, Ca., and Tien, from Irvine, first acquainted themselves with one another in the junior ranks, the pair have both eased into the round of 16 at the Australian Open.

They've been training at the same academy in Orange County for about four years, and frequently spend their off hours playing Fortnite together. But this winter they made better use of their time and had a full training block complete with a hairy fitness regime that got them both prepped for the physical rigors of tennis in the high heat of the Aussie summer.

A crazy stat: by reaching around and 16 today, Michelson and Tien are the first pair of American men aged 20 or under to have reached round of 16 at the Australian open since 1990 when Pete Sampras and David Wheaton achieved the feat.




Tien, 19, is the only teenager left in the men’s singles draw. He took out three time finalist Daniil Medvedev in a dramatic five set thriller in the second round and on Saturday night in Melbourne he moved past Frenchman Corentin Moutet (7-6(10), 6-3, 6-3) to reach the sweet 16.

Michelsen, a year older at 20, has been an absolute force through three rounds. He took out 11th-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round and on Saturday he moved past dangerous veteran Karen Khachanov (6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2) in straight sets to reach the round of 16 at a major for the first time.

Michelson is playing his sixth grand slam main draw; Tien is playing his fourth.

With his win over Moutet, Tien became the youngest player into the round of 16 at the Australian Open since Rafael Nadal in 2005, and the youngest American to reach the second week at a major since Andy Roddick in 2001.

After his win over the 19th-seeded Russian on Saturday, Michelsen talked about his friendship with Tien.

“We did pretty much every single day of off-season together,” he said. “Really good to see the hard work is paying off. We put in a lot of hard yards this off-season. I stayed up pretty late watching his match against Medvedev the other night. He is paying unbelievable.

“Maybe I get like 1 percent credit for that because I hit with him every day. Yeah, we're very, very good friends. Definitely my best friend on tour.”

Michelsen talked about meeting Tien in the juniors, and spoke of the southpaw's incredible skills.

“He was always better than everyone else,” he said. “I remember my whole friend group, we were like, ‘Oh, my God, it's Learner.’ He was always way better. He was 10, playing like 14 and 16 unders and doing just fine. Then we started training together in 2021. Yeah, I would say, '21. So probably about four years we've been pretty good friends.”

Tien tells a similar story, but he remembers Michelsen reeling off wins against him later in their junior days:

"We started practicing at the same academy," Tien remembers. "We ended up playing each other in the finals of sectionals in Southern California. I got him there in three the first time we played. Then the next year he beat me, like, four times in singles and doubles. I think two in singles, two in doubles.

"I didn't really know him too well before a few years ago, but we've spent a lot of time together. We practice a lot together. Definitely pretty close right now. It's great to see him doing great."

Michelsen will take on Aussie Alex de Minaur in the round of 16, while Tien will face Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. No matter what happens on Monday in Melbourne, it’s just the beginning from the talented tandem – stay tuned.

 

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