It’s off-season time in tennis, but it’s never short of drama. As the curtain falls on another year and players unwind before gearing up for the next, the ATP steps in with a little appreciation moment for those who stole the spotlight this season. The aim? A bit of fun and some healthy competition off the court. But things took a turn when Jack Draper and Joao Fonseca found themselves caught in a debate with Learner Tien fans.

On November 20, the ATP announced the nominees for its “ATP Awards,” and fans were quick to spot one glaring issue. The “Breakthrough of the Year” list featured Draper, Fonseca, Shanghai Masters winner Valentine Vacherot, and Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik. But Learner Tien? Nowhere to be seen.

One fan couldn’t hide their disbelief, writing, “I’m not even one of his shooters but there’s really no way to explain Tien being left off of here. Insane snub tbh.” It’s hard to argue with that. The 19-year-old American captured his first ATP Tour title this year and rocketed up the rankings, climbing nearly 100 spots.

Yet, somehow, he was overlooked in favor of the British No.1. Draper made his ATP debut back in March 2021 and already sits in the Top 10 with three tour titles, including two from last year, his real breakthrough season when he reached the US Open semifinals. And Fonseca? The Brazilian first appeared in a main draw at the 2023 Rio Open and has gone on to win two titles this year in Basel and Buenos Aires.

This is a developing story…