The young guns are blazing at the Australian Open, and we are here for it! The first Grand Slam of the year is shaking things up as seasoned veterans exit earlier than expected, leaving the door wide open for the new generation to shine. And guess who’s stepping up to the plate? Southern California’s very own rising stars, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien. These two aren’t just making headlines—they’re making history at Melbourne Park! But wait, there’s more. Did you know the bond between Michelsen and Tien goes way back?

Tien, 19, and Michelsen, 20, have become the first pair of American men age 20 or younger to reach the third round of a Grand Slam event since the 2003 US Open. They have joined the elite club of Andy Roddick and Robby Ginepri who were both 20 years of age when they achieved this feat. But there is more to this story. Both Tien and Michelsen have shared a cordial bond and depicted great friendship over the years.

In fact, Michelsen and Tien have known each other for over a decade now. They did not just train together growing up, but also engaged in fierce battles off the court! Yes, you heard that right. Michelsen and Tien love playing Fortnite but the latter is seemingly leading their H2H tally as revealed by Michelsen. Talking to ATP Tour.com, he said, “Learner Tien is incredible at Fortnite. He won’t say it, but he’s incredible.” The duo also play table tennis, which further sheds light on their off-court camaraderie. But this is not all!

Notably, both players have the same performance coach, Eric Diaz, who helps youngsters sharpen their tennis skills, the result of which is evident in Australia. And it is because of this bond, that they have depicted immense admiration and high regard for each other. When quizzed if he would be there in the stands to watch Tien face Daniil Medvedev in the second round, Michelsen dished out an honest opinion. “He doesn’t need me. He’ll do just fine,” Michelsen said. And that proved prophetic, as Tien defeated Medvedev in a nail-biting five-setter. Interestingly, Tien has also highlighted similar regard for his childhood bestie.

Tien and Michelsen faced each other in the semi-finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals just a month ago, with Tien emerging victorious in five sets. However, he shared that he did not like to play against Michelsen. “I am really happy with the win but I hate it was against him, but that is just how it goes.” Continuing further, he shared, “I started smiling when I came out here and saw him on the other side of the net, but I am really happy to get through and think I played really well.” But besides the bond they share, Michelsen and Tien have yet another thing in common: the love for their parents.

Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien resonate similar love for parents with emotional messages

Learner Tien has become the youngest American player to reach this stage at the Australian Open since an 18-year-old Sampras reached the fourth round in 1990. Michelsen too, has depicted immense power and has baffled great talents like that of Stefanos Tsitsipas and now Karen Khachanov, and has proved his mettle. But both players are missing a crucial aspect of the tournament and it is the presence of their family members. 

Tien shared an emotional message for his parents after his win over Medvedev that ended at about 8 a.m. on Thursday morning back home in California. Speaking in the post-match interview, he said, “I don’t know if my parents are still watching… I love you guys. Thank you for always supporting me from across the world.” He expressed his desire to have their company in Australia and said, “I know you guys wish you could be here. I wish you could be here, too.” A similar reaction, meanwhile, came from Michelsen too. 

After his third-round win over Karen Khachanov, he addressed his mother and apologized to her for not calling her before the match. “Mom, hi. Sorry, I only called you for like a minute today. I’ll call you soon. I had things to do. I love you. I miss you,” the star player said. Now, as the tournament continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how the close friends fare in Melbourne. Will they continue to outshine their opponents at the Australian Open? We’ll get to know soon enough!