Learner Tien has advanced to his first Masters 1000 quarter-final after beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Tien – who has also played doubles alongside Daniil Medvedev in California – saved two match points before defeating Fokina 4-6, 6-1, 7-6.
In the last eight, Tien will play Jannik Sinner, whom he lost to in the final of the 2025 China Open.
However, much has changed since that match: Tien has won his first ATP Tour title, while Sinner has shown signs of vulnerability at the start of this year.
Chris Eubanks, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, has discussed how the young American can challenge Sinner during their match on Thursday.
Chris Eubanks says Learner Tien must use variety in his shot selection in order to disrupt Jannik Sinner
Eugenie Bouchard, the 2013 Wimbledon Ladies Singles finalist, began the conversation by heaping praise on Tien, noting the American’s high tennis IQ.
“He’s so fun to watch, Learner Tien and I really enjoyed that match,” she said on the Tennis Channel. “I just love how he is patient and waits for the right shot.
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“He has that high percentage tennis where he’s not going for too much. But then when he does, he chooses the right one, like that crazy forehand down the line winner we saw.
“I think it’ll be tough against Sinner. I think Sinner obviously is the favourite. I think he will most likely end up winning.
“But I think it’s great for Tien to just match up against the best in the world and see what he needs to do. I want him to try to have a bit more weaponry in his game to compete against the top players.
“Sinner obviously has that with his big hitting and his forehand. So we’ll see what Tien can do to neutralize that shot, stay in the point, extend the rallies. I think it’ll go his way if he can try to do that.”
Eubanks continued the discussion, highlighting Tien’s change of racket after losing to Sinner in the 2025 China Open final.
“Yeah, I think it’s funny that you spoke about adding some firepower because that’s something that Learner has worked on since he last played Sinner,” Eubanks said.
“He’s changed his racket and he wanted to get a more powerful racket for those moments.
“He lost to Sinner last year in Beijing. A couple of weeks later, throws in a more powerful racket, takes his first career title, wins next gen, and then takes off and is on a run. I think variety is going to be the name of the game, though.
“He does not want to get into a ball striking fest with Jannik Sinner. I think he would do well to play him up the middle and then try to spread him when the opportunity presents itself.
“When he gets stretched out, slow the ball down— you don’t want to inject too much pace if you’re so far off the court, because Sinner is so good at redirecting that pace using some slicing, slowing tempo, slowing heights, just changing and keeping the ball out of the centre strike zone and making him have to adjust.
“I think, hopefully, if he’s able to do that, he can disrupt Sinner.
Indian Wells ATP quarter-finals
- Carlos Alcaraz vs Cameron Norrie
- Jack Draper vs Daniil Medvedev
- Alexander Zverev vs Arthur Fils
- Jannik Sinner vs Learner Tien
“Then it’s going to be a matter of: does he execute in the pressure moments he’s been doing it so far in this tournament?
“Saved a couple match points, so you got to think he’s feeling really good about his chances. But he’s got to keep Sinner guessing on his strike zone and then, when the pressure moments come, he has to capitalise.”
Who could Tien play in the Indian Wells semi-finals?
If Tien were to do the unthinkable and beat Jannik Sinner, he would play Arthur Fils or Alexander Zverev in the Indian Wells last four.
Tien has a 1-1 record against Fils, who has impressed since returning from a long-term back injury.
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Tien has a 1-2 record against Zverev. The American defeated Zverev in their first match at the 2025 Acapulco Open; but since then, the German has secured victories against Tien at Roland Garros and the Australian Open.
If Tien were to advance to the championship match, he would play Cameron Norrie, Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper or Daniil Medvedev.
Speaking of Draper, the British star produced a superb performance to beat Novak Djokovic on Thursday, before expressing his respect for the Serbian tennis legend.
