Learner Tien Wins First Roland-Garros Match, Details Clay Court Improvement Learner Tien, the 20-year-old American left-hander, secured his first career victory at the French Open after defeating clay-court specialist Cristian Garin in four sets (6-0, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0) in a match lasting 1 hour and 51 minutes. The world No. 18’s dominant performance included 39 winners, 12 aces, and eight break points, propelling him to the second round where he will next face Facundo Diaz Acosta. This win marks a significant milestone in Tien’s career, as he overcame the challenges of adapting to Paris’ demanding clay surface. Tien’s victory was marked by his growing comfort with the physical and technical demands of clay courts. In a post-match press conference, he emphasized his progress in handling long rallies and improving his shot selection. “I feel like I build points well, and that’s important on clay,” he said. “I also believe my movement is improving a lot. I have more patience, I handle long rallies better, and I’m willing to work on every point to avoid making errors too quickly.” The 20-year-old player acknowledged the physical toll of clay-court matches, noting that players must accept the reality of enduring prolonged points and physical strain. “Sometimes, you have to accept the fact of suffering physically and playing very long points,” he admitted. “But I feel I’m ready to do that.” Tien highlighted his evolving understanding of the surface, explaining that while clay offers more tactical options, it also requires adjustments to movement, court conditions, and ball behavior. “I’m learning which shots can help me on this surface as I go along and which ones I might use more on hard courts that aren’t as effective here,” he added.#learner_tien #paris #french_open #cristian_garin #facundo_diaz_acosta
