Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Roland Garros match.
One of the most accomplished players at Roland Garros, Alexander Zverev returns to the Parisian clay aiming to launch another strong campaign, beginning with a first-round encounter against one of American tennis’s brightest prospects, Learner Tien.
Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev enters the tournament as one of the leading contenders—not only because of his world No. 3 ranking, but also due to his consistent performances in Paris, having reached three semi-finals and a final over the past four years. A first-round elimination would be a major setback. That said, he recently suffered an unexpected defeat in his hometown of Hamburg, falling in the second round to Alexandre Muller (3:6, 6:4, 6:7). Perhaps his attention was already shifting towards Roland Garros?
Learner Tien
At just 19 years old, Learner Tien is in only his second full season on the pro tour. Last year, he played nine main-draw matches and posted a 5-4 record; this season, he has already appeared in 18, though with a 7-11 record. Ranked 67th in the world, he has made impressive progress since the start of the year, when he was outside the top 100 at No. 120. And how has Tien fared against top-10 players? In 2025, he faced them twice—and won both times. At the Australian Open, where he reached the fourth round, he overcame Daniil Medvedev in a near five-hour five-set battle (6:3, 7:6, 6:7, 1:6, 7:6). Then, in Acapulco, he defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets (6:3, 6:4).
Alexander Zverev vs Learner Tien Prediction
That match in Mexico was their only previous meeting. Based on that performance, the young American clearly possesses the ability to trouble even the most seasoned contenders. Given the circumstances, the expectation is that even if Learner Tien does not pull off an upset, he will be competitive enough to take at least one set off Alexander Zverev.
