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Tennis Star Learner Tien Admits He Found Sport Boring
30 Oct
Summary
- Learner Tien found tennis too slow and would often 'zone out' while watching.
- He preferred watching highlights, especially Gael Monfils' matches.
- Tien has one tournament left in his 2026 season, the Paris Masters.
Learner Tien, a top 20 men's tennis player, has revealed he did not always enjoy watching the sport he now excels at. In 2026, Tien reached his career peak with an ATP title in Geneva and strong performances at Grand Slams. However, he confessed on a podcast that growing up, he found tennis "too slow" and would "zone out" during matches, preferring to watch highlights.
Tien specifically cited the lengthy changeovers as a reason for his disinterest. He admired players like Gael Monfils but was not inclined to watch entire matches. As a professional, Tien now appreciates these breaks, noting how quickly a minute and a half feels during matches, a stark contrast to his childhood perception.
The American player's 2026 season is nearing its end, with only the Paris Masters remaining. Having lost in Vienna, Tien will enter the Paris Masters as a seeded player, offering a more favorable draw. He faces pressure to perform well at this final tournament, as he will drop 250 points from a previous ATP title win.
