Learner Tien continued his impressive run at the Next Gen ATP Finals on Friday, booking an all-American semifinal showdown against close friend Alex Michelsen. The 19-year-old American stunned top seed and 2023 runner-up Arthur Fils, defeating the Frenchman 4-2, 4-2, 3-4 (4/7), 4-3 (7/5).
Tien, who has surged to world No. 122 after starting the year at No. 453, displayed resilience and skill in avenging his loss to Fils from the first round of the US Open in August. “I thought I played really well today,” Tien said. “It felt great to rebound and play a good match after Joao Fonseca chopped me yesterday.”
Michelsen secured his semifinal spot earlier in the day, completing his group campaign with a perfect record. The 19-year-old American’s opponent, China’s Shang Juncheng, retired in the second set of their match, handing Michelsen a third consecutive victory. From the player’s box, Michelsen cheered on Tien’s victory, playfully pointing to the back of his sweatshirt that read “Victory Royale”—a nod to their shared love for the video game Fortnite. “We play Fortnite a lot together, so it’s kind of a joke. Our agent got us tracksuits that say that on the back,” Tien explained.
In the other half of the draw, France’s Luca Van Assche secured the final semifinal spot after a hard-fought win over Nishesh Basavareddy of the United States, 3-4 (2/7), 4-3 (9/7), 4-2, 4-2. Van Assche will face Brazil’s Joao Fonseca in Saturday’s semifinal after Fonseca topped his group with an impressive 3-0 record.
“It was very, very close. I think I played at a good level,” said Van Assche. “The start was tough, but then I managed to play better. I managed my emotions well, especially when my head was exploding. I like to thank the public here because it was busy, and they were cheering for me a lot. *I am ready for the semifinals.”
The stage is set for an exciting set of semifinals, as Tien and Michelsen prepare to battle for a place in the final, while Van Assche and Fonseca compete for the other spot.
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