The first time you win
Student Ten Tien: Light of the first time win
The 19-year-old is the first American teenager to win an ATP Tour title since Andy Roddick, 19, in 2002
November 08, 2025
Chyslene Caillaud / Sport Vision
Student Ten Clinches his ATP Tour title in Metz.
By ATP staff
#NextnatGatp Star Teen became the ninth ATP Tour winner this season with his impressive victory on Saturday in Moselle.
The 19-year-old defeated Cameron Norrie in the final and made his top 30 decision in the PIF atp rankings. With the win, Tien became the first American teenager to win a world title since Andy Roddick, 19, in 2002.
The Indoor Hard Hard-Court ATP 250 crown is the latest highlight in what has been an exciting season for -fty. After finishing runner-up last year in the Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, he got five wins over the top players this season and reached the final of the ATP 500 in Beijing, where he lost to Jannik Sour.
atptour.com caught up with Tien to discuss his running theme, his journey and more…
What does it mean to win your first ATP title?
It’s really special to me. It was the biggest goal I had during the season. It was the last week of the year. I really wanted to make it happen. So, it means a lot.
Who have been the most influential people in helping you reach this moment in your career?
I haven’t had many coaches, but I’ve been lucky enough to have coaches throughout my life. I think everyone plays their role in me, as a person, in my game. I am very grateful to everyone who helped me. Obviously, my parents. My father is my first coach. I spoke to him directly after the game. Many people to thank and many people thank you very much.
He managed to crack the top 30 for the first time at just 19 years old. What does that mean to you?
That’s good, actually. I wasn’t sure what my position would be after this week. But it was a bonus, honestly, that I could hear the seeds in Australia. It’s something I would really try to remember during the match and kind of add more pressure to me. So, that’s good.
What lessons did you take away from your first ATP tour last month against Jannik Sonner?
I think it honestly helped with the nerves a little bit. Obviously I felt some nerves playing today with my first title, but I think how much I’m in that stage of the tournament, I think it helped me a lot with the same jitters as well.
Your mother was a teacher and your father was a lawyer, didn’t you find out that you didn’t get tennis and why?
I might be a loser. I never took much else. So, I guess I’m lucky.
What was it like to have former Noah World 2 Michael Chang join your team this year?
It was good. It was very special to have him on my team. You helped me a lot. The understanding he has brought, the experience he has. I feel like we clicked well and were able to work well.
What is one lesson or story for me from your time with him so far?
Are we counting today? [I would say] Today. Today is the best day of the year.
He first went to college for a semester before turning pro. Has the journey since then been different from what you expected when you made that decision?
I wouldn’t say I had many expectations of what was to come after leaving school. I wanted to be done with school, honestly. So I just felt like I was ready to go out there and fully dedicate myself to achieving tennis. I’ve had several experiences this year, but I didn’t say anything scary because I didn’t have a ton of expectations about what was going to happen.
This is a short year in your career, how will you celebrate this victory?
I don’t know. I have no idea. I still take it, honestly. I still don’t really believe it. I have never had dinner anywhere but my hotel room [here in Metz] This whole week. Lunch or dinner. I’ve ordered food in my room, the same meal for tomorrow all this week in my room, so I’m going to do something different tonight.
