Learner Tien Aims to Become Fourth American in US Open Quarterfinals

A shot at history

Learner Tien, the No. 14 seed at the US Open, will face Russia's Karen Khachanov on Monday, September 7, for a place in the quarterfinals. Should the left-handed American win, he would become the fourth American man to reach the quarterfinals in New York this year, joining Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton and Alex Michelsen, according to 105.9 The X.

Tien reached the Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this season and arrives at this fourth-round clash on the back of wins over Nuno Borges, Gael Monfils and Jakub Mensik, according to The Grandstand. His opponent, 30-year-old Khachanov, currently ranked world No. 50, had a modest 16-18 record in 2026 before the tournament, but has beaten Roman Andres Burruchaga, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Benjamin Bonzi in New York — only the second time in his career he has reached the US Open fourth round. The Grandstand's writers favor Tien, predicting a four-set win.

Another tight contest

The same day also brings a rematch between No. 24 seed Francisco Cerundolo and No. 28 seed Alexander Blockx, who last met in March in Madrid, where Blockx won 7-6, 6-2. Cerundolo has played two five-set matches in New York so far, against Jan-Lennard Struff and Taylor Fritz, and had won only one of his previous five matches before the tournament. Blockx, meanwhile, had a smoother path to the second week, beating Marcelo Tomas Berrios Vera and Marco Trungelliti, then dropping just six games in the last three sets against No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli. The Grandstand predicts a straight-sets win for Blockx.

American tennis on the rise

A record 15 American men reached the third round at this year's US Open — the best showing since 2002 — while five advanced to the fourth round, the most since 1995, according to 105.9 The X. World No. 12 Tiafoe recently beat Daniil Medvedev to reach his fourth US Open quarterfinal, while No. 9 Shelton defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas. The last American man to win a Grand Slam singles title was Andy Roddick, at the US Open in 2003. On the women's side, No. 4 seed Coco Gauff faces compatriot Iva Jovic at Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight; Gauff previously won the US Open in 2023 and the French Open in 2025.