Learner Tien is the highest-ranked player remaining in his quarter of the U.S. Open draw, and he will try to continue his run against Karen Khachanov on Monday. Francisco Cerundolo and Alexander Blockx are also on the order of play.
Karen Khachanov vs. (14) Learner Tien
The host nation figured to have a semifinalist in the top half of the U.S. Open draw. It still might — but following Taylor Fritz’s loss to Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday, Tien is now the American man expected to make it that far (along with perhaps several others in the bottom half of the bracket). The left-hander, who was an Australian Open quarterfinalist at the beginning of this season, has continued his outstanding form with wins over Nuno Borges, Gael Monfils, and Jakub Mensik.
Up next for Tien on Monday is Khachanov, whom the world No. 15 has never faced. Surprisingly, Khachanov finds himself in round four at Flushing Meadows for just the second time in his career. And it has come unexpectedly, too, as the 30-year-old Russian had been a disappointing 16-18 in 2026 prior to this fortnight and is down at 50th in the rankings. Khachanov appears to be getting back on track with victories over Roman Andres Burruchaga, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Benjamin Bonzi, but that was a very favorable Week 1 draw — at least when you take Auger-Aliassime’s ailments into account. A matchup with Tien will almost certainly be more difficult, and it’s hard to see Khachanov being consistent enough from the back of the court to deal with the guile that the No. 14 seed brings to the table.
Pick: Tien in 4
(24) Francisco Cerundolo vs. (28) Alexander Blockx
Cerundolo and Blockx will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Monday. Their only previous meeting came earlier this season on the red clay of Madrid, where Blockx prevailed 7-6(8), 6-2. The Belgian is in a fantastic spot to take care of business once again, largely because Cerundolo is coming off back-to-back five-setters against Jan-Lennard Struff and Taylor Fritz. Moreover, the 25th-ranked Argentine had been 1-4 in his last five matches heading into New York, where he had never been past round two prior to this fortnight.
Blockx, on the other hand, had no trouble securing his spot in Week 2. The 21-year-old Belgian eased past Marcelo Tomas Berrios Vera and Marco Trungelliti before dropping only six games in the last three sets of Saturday’s match against No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli (Cobolli won the opening set in a tiebreaker). With Blockx flying and Cerundolo surely dealing with some fatigue, the world No. 34 should be the favorite in this contest even if he is the slightly lower-ranked player.
Pick: Blockx in 3
WWW?
Lerner in 4, Blockx in 3.
Tien in 4, Blockx in 4
I hope Tien isn’t exhausted after that late-night marathon! But he’s young. I can’t call Tien-Khachanov though, potential fatigue vs experience? Brilliance vs solid? I’m just watching that one.
And probably Blockx because fresher, unless Cerundolo dredges up energy from hidden depths of his psyche and can turn that fatigue around.
I can feel it in my… Francisco vs Blockx will finish before midnight (NL) 23.00 England, 18.00 New York.
tien in 4; Blox in 4
I was all set to pick an all Red wave with Khachanov hammering a withered Tien, but with the way the Medvedev matched shaped, I have lost all confidence in over seas players. If Khachanov can win the 1st and 3rd set, assuming Tien gets footing around set 2, then the match is his. But a lot of question marks and doubts.
By that, do you mean that asking too many questions means you shouldn’t seriously consider a -2.5 handicap for Learner? Currently at 1.83.
Now Lerner can waddle his ass to the locker room.
That was a fabulous match that went down to the wire and honestly it was a flip of the coin which would win. They were both brilliant. I was sorry either of them had to lose but I bet we will see Learner Tien many more years playing at very high level.