An 18-year-old American, Learnen Tien, is enjoying a breakthrough season. The Irvine native claimed his third Challenger title within three and a half months in Fairfield, making another push toward the top-100 after kicking off the season just inside the top-500!
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A left-hander faced the former world no. 17 Bernard Tomic in the title clash and scored a crushing 6-0, 6-1 victory in 39 minutes, writing history as the winner of the shortest Challenger final. The Aussie played well to reach his most notable final in over six years, defending two match points versus Alexis Galarneau in the quarter-final and toppling Tristan Schoolkate in the semi-final.
However, Tomic stood no chance in the final, with Tien controlling the pace from start to finish en route to another success. The American dropped six points in seven service games, facing no break points and mounting the pressure on the other side.
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Learnen Tien claimed his third Challenger title over Bernard Tomic in Fairfield.
The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist could not follow those numbers, landing in 41% of the first serve and dropping almost 60% of the points in his games.
Bernard player against nine break points and lost serve five times, suffering a heavy defeat in his first Challenger final since September 2018. Learnen closed the opening game of the encounter with a forehand winner and created two break points in the next one after Bernard's forehand error.
The American converted the second after the rival's forehand mistake, opening a 2-0 lead and landing a forehand winner in the next one to cement it. The young gun landed a forehand crosscourt winner in the fourth game for two break chances.
He missed them before seizing the third after Tomic's loose forehand, moving 4-0 in front and extending the gap. Tien held at love in game five with a booming serve and made another push on the return in the next one against a powerless rival.
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Bernard faced two set points after a double fault and closed a terrible set with another, allowing his opponent to deliver a bagel in 16 minutes! A left-hander held at 15 in the first game of the second set before the more experienced player secured his only game with an unreturned serve, leveling the score at 1-1.
A teenager grabbed the third game with a service winner and generated a break chance in the next one after drawing Tomic's mistake. Learnen converted it and forged a 3-1 advantage, moving a set and a break in front. The American blasted an ace in the fifth game, providing another comfortable hold and earning his fifth break in the next one following the Aussie's double fault.
Tien held with an ace in the seventh game, sealing the deal in under 40 minutes and celebrating his third Challenger title within a couple of months.
