Tien matches his Masters 1000 best as his level keeps climbing in Montreal
Learner Tien beat Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Montreal quarter-final, saving off a stubborn Argentine who fought away four match points.
Learner Tien, Montreal 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
American Learner Tien, the No. 12 seed, beat Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-4, 6-4 in the round of 16 of the National Bank Open on Sunday to reach his first Montreal quarter-final, though the scoreline undersold how hard he had to work for it. Tirante saved four match points along the way before Tien, ranked No. 19, finally closed out the win.
The win was the 20-year-old’s second Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season, matching his run to the last eight at Indian Wells earlier this year, and his 50th tour-level hard-court win, a career milestone reached in his 79th match on the surface. It also made him the youngest American man to reach the Montreal quarter-finals since Andy Roddick, 19, in 2002.
Tien will next face Spaniard Daniel Merida, three wins now standing between him and the biggest title of his career.
Tien’s defensive skills
The 20-year-old leaned heavily on his return and his composure at the net, winning 92 percent of points when he came forward compared to 58 percent for Tirante, and converting four of 12 break points to Tirante’s two from 10. Tirante served more freely, striking seven aces to Tien’s two and winning his first-serve points at a marginally higher rate, but it was Tien who finished with the better overall numbers with only seven more points than his opponent.
Tien’s defensive work in extended rallies as a key factor in wearing Tirante down over the two sets.
Tien had beaten No. 17 seed Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-2 and Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 0-6, 6-3, in Monfils’s farewell appearance at the event, to reach the fourth round. Tirante, ranked No. 64, had defeated Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-4, No. 7 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States 7-5, 6-3 and Canadian Duncan Chan 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (3) to get there.
Extrait : Learner Tien beat Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Montreal quarter-final, saving off a stubborn Argentine who fought away four match points before the American’s return game and net play proved decisive.
