Vietnamese tennis player Learner Tien: 19-year-old millionaire

Learner Tien, a Vietnamese-American tennis player, is gaining attention at the Shanghai Masters after impressive matches and earning $1.8 million.

19 year old star

At only 19 years old, Learner Tien has become one of the hottest names in the world of tennis.

Born in 2006 in Irvine, California, to a Vietnamese father and a teacher mother, Tien has now entered the ATP Top 40 and earned more than $1.8 million in prize money in the 2025 season – enough to make him a rare teenage millionaire in American tennis.

Tien was once in the finals of the China Open. Photo: Imago

The name “Learner” – meaning learner – was given by his mother, originating from her educational philosophy: life is not just about winning, but a journey of continuous learning and self-improvement.

“My parents wanted me to understand that every mistake is a lesson , ” Tien once shared with the press .

True to his name, that learning spirit has helped him progress step by step, from the ITF junior court to the top of ATP, where he has continuously defeated the world's top stars.

The 2025 season was a remarkable coming-of-age moment. At the Australian Open, Tien defeated Daniil Medvedev, reaching the fourth round and becoming the youngest American player to do so since Pete Sampras in 1989.

That streak continued into the North American summer, where he defeated Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Andrey Rublev and Lorenzo Musetti – all Top 10 players at the time of their meetings.

American media called him " a phenomenon from the Alpha generation" , and Reuters described him as: "A cold, calculating and surprisingly persistent style" .

Aspiration

Tien is not known for his physical strength, but for his tactical thinking and ability to withstand pressure. He often waits for the right moment to counterattack, adjusts the tempo and forces his opponents to make mistakes.

His two-handed backhand is considered by experts to be one of the most consistent and sharpest strokes among teenagers today.

After reaching the final of the China Open – an ATP 500 tournament (his first ATP final) – and only losing to Jannik Sinner, Tien rose to 36th in the world, becoming the youngest American player to reach the Top 40 since Andy Roddick.

Tien's income of more than 1.8 million USD comes from competition bonuses, new sponsorship contracts with Nike and several American sports brands.

Tien impressed at the Shanghai Masters. Photo: ATP

But what caught the audience's attention was not just the money, but his calm and humble attitude – an image that reminded people of Michael Chang, the Asian legend who won Roland Garros in 1989 and is now Tien's own advisor.

Now, as the Shanghai Masters journey is taking place, the Vietnamese-American man continues to write a proud story: a true “Learner”, constantly learning and moving forward in the world of giants.

Tien is now in the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters – where he will meet his “defeated general” Medvedev again (who did not play before 9am on October 8). He is eager for another final in China, and even to compete for the championship after Sinner withdrew.

With his intelligent playing style, strong mentality and rare discipline at the age of 19, Learner Tien is considered the future of American tennis – and a new inspiration for the global Vietnamese community.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tay-vot-goc-viet-learner-tien-trieu-phu-tuoi-19-2450067.html