Ben Shelton’s opponent has message for him after – Sports News
Learner Tien delivered one of the largest surprises of the early rounds on the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, defeating fellow American Ben Shelton in a hard-fought three-set battle at Indian Wells.
But after the match, the rising star made sure to acknowledge his opponent’s effort regardless of the upset outcome.
Afterward, Tien spoke extremely of Shelton during his interview, stating that the eighth seed had been battling sickness all through the week.
“I just want to say, Ben came out not feeling 100%. I don’t think he’s been feeling great all week, but he’s an amazing competitor, and he came out and gave it his all, so I just want to say huge props to him,” Tien mentioned.
“Nerves positively performed a function. I really feel like I used to be lacking some pictures that I normally wouldn’t, and my rhythm was not absolutely there in some moments, however I’m simply proud of how I stayed current and how I competed.”
The 20-year-old also praised Shelton’s biggest weapon: his powerful serve. “Even when he’s not at his best, his serve is still incredible,” Tien said. “The serve and forehand were really firing in some moments in the match, and you just never know.”
For Tien, the win continues an impressive trend against some of the ATP Tour’s top players. With the victory over Shelton, he improved his record against top-10 opponents and secured his sixth career win against a player ranked inside the elite group.
Despite that success, Tien insists he doesn’t pay attention to rankings once he steps on the court.
“I don’t think about rankings when I step on the court,” Tien said. “I really believe that any time I step on the court, I have a chance to win, and I just go out and compete. Whatever happens, happens.”
The win also represents a milestone moment for Tien at Indian Wells, where he advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in his career. The California native grew up watching the event and has beforehand spoken about how particular the occasion is to him.
Next up for Tien is a fourth-round conflict towards Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as he seems to be to proceed his deep run on the event.
Meanwhile, Shelton will shift his focus to the upcoming Miami Open, one other ATP Masters 1000 occasion the place he’ll look to bounce back after an earlier-than-expected exit within the California desert.
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