Andre Agassi thinks rising tennis star who left Daniil Medvedev terrified is beyond help

Tennis icon Andre Agassi has raved about 19-year-old prodigy Learner Tien, joining the group of admirers after Daniil Medvedev praised the American left-hander. Tien only turned professional on the ATP Tour two years ago but has already broken into the top 50.

Now ranked world number 38, Tien is causing a stir as the new wave of racquet-holding superstars coming through on the tour with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner blazing a trail for the next generation of dominant forces in the sport. Novak Djokovic is the last remaining from the previous era of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal but there may be a new kid on the block that is already making shockwaves.

The 19-year-old suffered defeat in his first ATP tour final last month to Sinner, losing in straight sets to the Italian as he bounced back from his US Open disappointment. He followed it up with a solid performance in the Shanghai Masters, beating Miomir Kecmanovic, Corentin Moutet and Cameron Norrie before exiting in the Round of 16 against Medvedev.

It was against the world number 14 where Tien made an impression on the Russian. He had already beaten Medvedev twice previously and although the 29-year-old wasn't seeking revenge on a rival 10 years his junior, he highlighted why the talent has the potential to be a star on the world stage.

"Zero, zero. It doesn't help (talking with his team). I should be calmer. Learner drives me nuts," he said. "He's an unbelievable tennis player. I lost two very strong matches against him, so for sure I was scared to lose again.

"He's an unbelievable tennis player. I lost two very strong matches against him, so for sure I was scared to lose again.

"I'm really happy that I managed to cross the finish line. The match was up-and-down, but I'm very happy that I managed to win."

The wait for Tien's first ATP Tour title will continue, meanwhile he reached the fourth round in the Australian Open as well as the second round at Wimbledon. But he will be looking to improve on his showings across the Grand Slam calendar in 2026, starting in Melbourne in January.

However, Agassi says he has all the attributes physically and mentally to challenge tennis' elite. He said: "He has learned the game phenomenally well. He is incredibly gifted, not just with his game, but with his mind.

"He has to overcome certain physical limitations versus other guys, as far as size and strength (goes), but he's still so young. When I really look at him from a tennis player execution standpoint, he's one of the few guys I say to myself, (I don't know) how would I help him get better, he does everything."

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