Novak Djokovic opened his US Open campaign with a straight-sets win over Learner Tien. See the full US Open results, Djokovic vs Tien score, Learner Tien’s age and bio, on-court takeaways, and today’s US Open schedule—plus context with Michael Chang and John McEnroe.
Fast Summary (for skimmers)
- US Open Results (R1): Novak Djokovic def. Learner Tien 6–1, 7–6(3), 6–2. Djokovic looked rusty after a six-week singles layoff but advanced in straight sets, improving to 19–0 in US Open first rounds.
- The story: A blister/foot issue and heavy second-set errors made it dicey, but the 24-time major winner steadied late. Post-match, he admitted he was “surprised how bad” he felt.
- Who is Learner Tien (age & background): The American 19-year-old (born 2005) has been one of 2025’s breakout names.
- US Open schedule today: Daily order of play and broadcast info are posted by the USTA/ATP and major outlets.
Why Djokovic vs Tien Mattered
On paper, Novak Djokovic—the No. 7 seed at age 38—was a heavy favorite against American teenager Learner Tien. In reality, their US Open opening-round match offered one of those check-in moments: How match-ready is Djokovic after six weeks off? How real is Tien’s rise? The answers overlapped on Arthur Ashe: Djokovic won, but the second set revealed rust (and a sore foot), and Tien showed enough shot-making to turn nerves into belief.
Djokovic’s straight-sets victory pushed his first-round US Open record to 19-0, a remarkable baseline of consistency that buys him time to sharpen for week two.
US Open Results: Djokovic vs Tien Scoreline and Match Flow
Final score: Djokovic def. Tien 6–1, 7–6(3), 6–2.
- Set 1 (6–1): Djokovic’s patterns—serve to forehand, backhand depth—were enough to rush Tien. Little drama.
- Set 2 (7–6): Where it got complicated. Djokovic’s footwork and balance dipped; he sprayed 20 unforced errors in the set and took a medical timeout for a toe blister. He still eked out the tiebreak.
- Set 3 (6–2): Scoreboard pressure told. Djokovic cleaned up just enough, managed the long exchanges, and rode experience to the finish.
Post-match, Djokovic said he was “surprised how bad [he] was feeling,” a candid assessment that doubled as a reminder: he hasn’t played since Wimbledon. Rust is normal. The job was to survive night one, and he did.
For highlights and the on-court interview, the tournament clips are already up.
Learner Tien, Explained (Age, Bio, Momentum)
If you typed “Learner Tien age” or “Tien tennis player”, here’s the quick bio:
- Age: 19 (born December 2005).
- Hometown: Irvine, California.
- Background: Parents immigrated from Vietnam; the name “Learner” nods to his mother’s teaching; his sister is named Justice.
- Breakthroughs: Reached the Australian Open 4th round in January 2025 (youngest man to do so since 2005) and notched a first Top-10 win en route. 2025 marks his first full ATP season.
Tien’s trajectory—and the way he handled Ashe—explains why rankings sometimes lag behind talent. He rocked Djokovic in pockets of the second set, especially when he landed first serves and uncorked forehand line winners. Even in defeat, his US Open night elevated his profile.
The Djokovic State of the Union: What We Learned
1) Fitness is a storyline—not a crisis (yet).
The second set showed stamina and foot issues (toe blister) more than tactical problems. Djokovic’s feel returned in the tiebreak, and he moved better in Set 3. If the blister calms down and the legs loosen, the ceiling rises quickly.
2) The serve + first-ball combo needs reps.
Djokovic’s best hard-court days feature a high first-serve clip, short +1 patterns, and depth control. Against Tien, the rhythm came and went—typical after a six-week layoff. He can build that structure over R2/R3 if the body cooperates.
3) The numbers still like him in New York.
Whatever the form, Djokovic’s Ashe resume is ridiculous—19-0 in first rounds and a long history of peaking across the fortnight. Night sessions keep conditions slower, which helps his return game and defensive resets.
US Open Schedule Today: How to Follow
- Official event schedule & order of play: USTA USOpen.org posts daily sessions (day and night) with court assignments.
- Broadcast windows: Multiple US broadcasters carry day/night matches; round-by-round slates and streams are aggregated by CBS Sports and others.
Bookmark the schedule pages and refresh during the day—late changes (weather, match duration) can shift start times.
Novak Djokovic’s all-black Head racquet is getting a makeover ahead of #USOpen. 🖤
New gold details pay tribute to his victory at the Paris Olympics. https://t.co/SYneqoy6u2
— TENNIS (@Tennis) August 24, 2025
Context Check: Djokovic in the Grand Slam Race
Djokovic remains the 24-time major champion chasing No. 25. The fact that he’s pacing himself for slams at 38 tells you how he’s prioritizing his calendar—and why a slightly scratchy R1 doesn’t move the bigger picture much. The ATP Tour write-ups framed this as a “scratchy” win with his first outing in 6+ weeks; that lens is the fairest way to judge night one.
Michael Chang & John McEnroe: Why They Belong in This Conversation
Because you searched for Michael Chang tennis and John McEnroe—and because history always shadows Ashe:
- Michael Chang remains the youngest male Grand Slam singles champion (1989 Roland-Garros at 17 years, ~3 months). His breakthrough is the timeless example of a teenager breaking the old guard’s hold—useful perspective when watching Learner Tien.
- John McEnroe is a four-time US Open singles champion, the ultimate New York litmus test for nerve and variety. When commentators invoke “Ashe swagger,” McEnroe’s ghost is in the room.
Those reference points help frame nights like Djokovic-Tien: a rising American teen (cue Chang comparisons) versus the grizzled Ashe expert (insert McEnroe’s New York standard).