"I don’t know if he’s gatekeeping them or if he just thinks they’re unobtainable for me": Learner Tien gleaming knowledge from Michael Chang including powerful legs

Learner Tien admitted he had to manage both the match and his mindset during a hard-fought three-set victory over Ben Shelton at Indian Wells Masters, ultimately coming through 7–6, 4–6, 6–3 to continue his impressive run of form.

Speaking afterwards at the BMW Tennis Channel desk, the young American explained that it was clear early on that Shelton was not quite at full strength, but that it still created a complicated tactical challenge. “A little bit, for sure,” Tien said when asked if it affected his approach.

“I think especially starting out, I could see he wasn’t fully there. Physically, I could see he was taking some pretty big cuts, so mentally that played into it a little bit. In some areas I was overplaying just because I felt like he was going to swing for the fences. But still, whether he’s feeling great or not, he still serves very, very well. So he’s always still in the match, and it was kind of tight throughout the whole thing. I was just able to get through.”

Despite the fluctuating momentum during the contest, Tien once again showed the composure that has quickly become a hallmark of his game.

Reflecting on his mentality during matches, the American said he tries to stay level-headed even when things begin to slip away.

“Sometimes it’s easier than others,” he admitted. "I got broken at 4-all in the second on not a very good game, and I think I did a great job of putting that behind me. Whether he’s feeling great or not, if you’re down a break I’m pretty sure he can still serve it out. So I’m just happy I was able to regroup for the third.”

Tien revealed that he allows himself a brief emotional reaction before resetting mentally. “I let myself get mad for a couple of seconds,” he said. "Then towards the end of the changeover I kind of snap out of it and hopefully I get a break and I’m still in the set. But most of the time I’m pretty good with it, pretty positive.”

A key influence on that mentality has been his work with former world No.1 and 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, who has been part of Tien’s coaching team. “It’s great,” Tien said of the partnership. "I think we communicate very well and we process things pretty similarly. The way he relays messages to me is easy for me to understand and I can pick things up pretty quickly.

“He’s very positive and very supportive, so it’s always great to have him in the box. Whether I’m winning or losing, he’s always a very steady, calm and supportive energy. It’s been great.”

The conversation also briefly turned light-hearted when Tien was asked whether Chang had given him any advice on building the famously powerful legs that helped drive his success as a player. “Not really,” Tien laughed. "I don’t know if he’s gatekeeping them or if he just thinks they’re unobtainable for me, so he hasn’t mentioned it. But that’s the goal. I’m trying to get there step by step.”

Tien’s victory also adds to an eye-catching statistic early in his career, a winning record against top-10 players. For the American, however, the secret is keeping things simple regardless of the opponent standing across the net.

“I try to approach all my matches the same, whoever I’m playing,” he said. "At this level, anyone is really good enough to beat anyone on any given day. So it’s about always staying sharp. Once you go on the court, previous matches and rankings don’t matter anymore — you’re just out there playing. I think I’m able to do a good job of tuning everything out except the match.”