Learner Tien upsets Arthur Fils to reach Next Gen ATP semi-finals

The semi-finalists of the Next Gen ATP Finals are set, with Joao Fonseca taking on Luca van Assche and Alex Michelsen squaring off against Learner Tien in the under-21 event on Saturday in Jeddah.

Day three of the event brought a significant upset with America’s Tien knocking out top seed Arthur Fils, who made the final of the tournament this time last year.

Tien, who was a +333 underdog at Bovada to defeat the Frenchman, played some of his best tennis across the one-hour, 42-minute clash, prevailing 4-2, 4-2, 3-4(4), 4-3(5).

“I thought I played really well today,” he said after the match.

“It was great to rebound and have a good match after getting chopped by Joao yesterday.

“It was great to come out here and play good tennis.

“I thought I maintained my level pretty well from the beginning to the end.”

Tien’s victory makes him the youngest American to beat an opponent in the world’s top 20 since 2010, and sets an all-American semi-final against Michelsen.

Michelsen advanced earlier in the day after China’s Juncheng Shang withdrew from their match at 4-1, 1-1.

With a bit of spare time, the No.2 seed opted to sit in Tien’s box and watch his compatriot’s match.

“It was funny seeing him there,” Tien said afterwards.

“We have been in each other’s boxes a few times in the past.

“We knew that we’d play each other if I won.

“We’ve been practicing together a lot in the last month.

“I told him I had a really good gut feeling that we’d play each other here.”

Tennis sportsbooks have Michelsen as a -303.03 favorite to beat Tien (+220) and make the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals.

In Saturday’s other semi-final, Fonseca holds the edge in tennis betting odds, paying -163.93 at Bovada to beat France’s van Assche (+130).

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