Cilic hits 600-win milestone as Tien falters in Dallas opener

In a momentous opening-round clash at the Nexo Dallas Open, veteran Marin Cilic secured his 600th career tour-level victory by defeating the sixth-seeded American Learner Tien 7-5, 7-6(4) on Tuesday evening.

The 37-year-old Croatian, a former US Open champion, utilized his vast experience and imposing baseline power to navigate a tight contest against the 20-year-old rising star.

The defeat marks a significant setback for Learner Tien, who entered the tournament with high expectations after his run to the Australian Open quarterfinals just weeks ago. In Melbourne, the world No. 23 (at the time of the tournament) stunned the tennis world by reaching the final eight, leading many to believe he would be the player to watch in Dallas.

However, in his first tour-level appearance since that breakthrough, the young left-hander was unable to confirm his major success, exiting in the first round of his home-country event.+1

Cilic’s victory is a landmark achievement, making him only the second active men’s player, alongside Novak Djokovic, to reach 600 wins. He is also the first Croatian man in the Open Era to hit this milestone. Cilic now advances to the last 16, where he will face the winner of the all-American match between Trevor Svajda and Ethan Quinn. For Tien, the immediate first-round exit serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in maintaining the momentum generated by a deep Grand Slam run