American tennis player Learner Tien's run in the U.S. Open came to a heart-wrenching end Monday night as he was defeated by Russia's Karen Khachanov in a five-set thriller in the Round of 16. Despite the loss, Tien's performance highlighted a strong showing by American athletes at the tournament.
Tien, 20, fought back tears after the 7-5, 4-6, 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-4 defeat on Louis Armstrong Stadium. The match was a grueling contest, with both players exchanging powerful shots and engaging in lengthy rallies. Khachanov, the No. 14 seed, acknowledged the difficulty of the match, noting Tien's defensive capabilities and the high intensity required to win.
"It was a really crazy match," Khachanov said during his on-court interview. "We played for the first time against each other. I knew what to expect: One extra ball coming back, one extra ball. So many close rallies. He loves to play that defense outside the court, that’s why it makes it extremely tough, this match, because you have to stay always in the match with great intensity, hitting, hitting, pushing. In the end, I’m super happy that I could pull through."
The first set was closely contested, with Tien holding a lead before Khachanov managed to break his serve to take the set 7-5. Tien responded in the second set, securing an early break and holding onto it to level the match at one set apiece. The third set went to a tiebreak, where Khachanov initially established a lead, but Tien fought back, eventually losing the set after a hard-fought battle.
In the final two sets, Khachanov regained control, largely dominating play and securing the victory. Despite the outcome, Tien's journey to the Round of 16 represents a significant achievement, contributing to the largest contingent of American singles players to reach the second week of the U.S. Open in over two decades.
Three American men, including Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Alex Michelsen, have advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals, matching the number of men who reached that stage in 1995. On the women's side, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Emma Navarro are among the American quarterfinalists, the most since 2017. Khachanov will advance to face No. 28 seed Alexander Blockx.
