There has been plenty of discussion around who is actually the best men’s player in the world at the moment, with Alexander Zverev’s recent success sparking debate amongst fans.

The German has enjoyed by far the best year of his career this season, hoisting two Grand Slam titles and securing world number one status, becoming the first from his country to clinch the top spot in the rankings since Boris Becker in 1991. But Zverev has not earned a win over either of the ‘new two’, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, in 2026.

Zverev lost his sole meeting with Alcaraz this year at the Australian Open and has suffered five consecutive defeats to Sinner.

Learner Tien names the two toughest players he has faced

When asked who he thinks is the most difficult opponent to face on the ATP Tour, 20-year-old American star Learner Tien did not mention Zverev. In an episode of the ‘Big T‘ podcast, Tien responded: “Every time I have faced Medvedev, I always know I’m in for a very long, hard battle. I have struggled a lot playing against Jannik. I will leave it at that.”

Daniil Medvedev is the player Tien has come up against the second most at ATP Tour-level, with the Russian playing him four times. The only player to have clashed with Tien more times than Medvedev is fellow American Alex Michelsen (5).

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Despite naming Medvedev as a difficult opponent, Tien has enjoyed a winning record over the former world number one so far. They first met in the second round of the 2025 Australian Open and went the distance, but Tien triumphed after the five-set battle. Tien won their second meeting in Beijing later that season, though the match ended with Medvedev retiring due to injury.

Medvedev clinched his first win in the rivalry at the 2025 Shanghai Masters, but Tien has since extended his lead in the head-to-head by beating him at the 2026 Australian Open. Against Sinner, Tien has not had much joy at all.

He has faced the Italian twice, with both matches ending in heavy defeats. Sinner beat Tien 6-2, 6-2 in the 2025 Beijing final and won 6-1, 6-2 when they faced each other at the 2026 Indian Wells Open. Tien has not yet played Alcaraz on the ATP Tour.

Tien trails Zverev 3-1 in their head-to-head and lost to Novak Djokovic in their first and only meeting at the 2025 US Open.

Learner Tien states his next goal in professional tennis

After his impressive debut season last year, Tien has continued to improve in 2026, having achieved a career-high ranking of 12th in the world. He reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time at the Australian Open earlier this year and made his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in Montreal.

Tien also clinched his second ATP title during the clay swing, when he emerged victorious at the Geneva Open; his first tour-level crown on the surface. Asked to state his next goal, Tien said: “I would say my ranking goal would be top 10.

“I was close a few months ago and I think I have dropped a little since, but I would say that is at the top of my list. A Slam semi is obviously high up there too.” Tien is currently ranked 18th in the world having recorded a fairly underwhelming Asian swing, exiting both the China Open and the Shanghai Masters in the early rounds.

On Wednesday, Tien lost in the second round of the Vienna Open to Alex de Minaur, falling to the Australian in straight sets.