After suffering a five-set upset at the hands of Rafael Jodar in his opener at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, American Learner Tien recovered lost ground on Thrusday, earning a pivotal 1-4, 4-1, 4-3(4), 4-3(2) win over fourth seed Martin Landaluce to wrap up Day 2 action in Jeddah.
With the hard-fought four-set tiebreak victory, last year’s finalist kept his qualification chances alive in the competition featuring the world’s best 20-and-under players on tour, staged in the King Abdullah Sports City.
“It’s better to lose four match points and win than have four match points and lose,” Tien shared in his on-court interview. “Still not super happy that I let those slip, but happy that I was able to get it done.”
On Friday, the Blue Group top seed will face off against Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer for a spot in the semifinals.
In-form Budkov Kjaer produced some of his best tennis to overpower Landaluce in four sets on Day 1, moving to 1-0 in Blue Group round-robin play, an advantage he would extend on Thursday with a 4-1, 4-2, 1-4, 4-2 win over Jodar in 79 minutes.
“I started great … Every shot I played went in, and Rafa was probably a bit nervous, which is probably normal. It’s tough to play a match after a big win. I’m very happy with the win, of course,” said the world No. 138 after the encounter.
The youngest Norwegian player (19) to clinch multiple Challenger titles this year, four overall, is on the verge of achieving the semifinals on debut.
For his part, Tien, who claimed his maiden tour-level title in Metz by defeating Brit Cameron Norrie in the final early in November, will have to adjust his game in his last round robin match against a spirited opponent.
The 20-year-old American enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025, which he set off in style, becoming the youngest American man to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open since Pete Sampras in 1990, early in January.
The left-handed, coached by Michael Chang and Erik Kortland, went on to reach another career milestone in Beijing, advancing into a first career ATP 500 final - fell to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
Currently sitting at a career-high world No. 28, he is looking to capture the crown that escaped him in 2024, when he lost to eventual champion Joao Fonseca at the season-end event in Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, compatriots Landaluce and Jodar will square off on Friday, both standing 1-1 in the Blue Group.
Earlier on Thursday, Red Group Alexander Blockx made history for his country, becoming the first Belgian player to progress to the final four in the eight-man tournament.
The second seed will meet Croat Dino Prizmic, who took his debut win at the competition by ousting 18-year-old German Justin Engel.
Meanwhile, Nishesh Basavareddy, who toppled the Croatian to start his second campaign in Jeddah on Wednesday, fell to Blockx in three sets.
Next, the American coached by Giles Cervara, will play a crucial match against the seventh seed Engel.
With Blockx through, only three spots remain available for the contenders to the title.