Learner Tien is drawing confidence from his coach Michael Chang as he prepares for the clay‑court season at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston.
Tien, 20, has climbed into the world’s top 25 this season and arrives in Texas as one of the tournament’s top seeds, a sign of how quickly his game has developed on the ATP Tour.
At the River Oaks Country Club, where clay court tennis returns with a strong American presence, Tien has been putting in extra work entering the event. He has also enjoyed vocal support from Houston’s large Vietnamese‑American community.
The focus for Tien this week is adapting to clay, a surface that demands patience, movement and strategy unlike hard courts. To help with that transition, he has leaned on guidance from Chang, who famously won the French Open as a 17‑year‑old and remains one of the most respected clay‑court competitors in U.S. tennis history.
“I have full faith in everything he tells me and everything he wants me to do,” Tien said of his coach’s influence on his preparation. “I really don’t question things, and it’s obviously paid off. That just adds to that trust.”
Tien and Chang have spent time refining the Californian’s movement and shot selection on clay, with an emphasis on the kinds of court craft that can lead to deeper runs at clay tournaments.
While clay remains a surface with a steeper learning curve for many American players, Tien’s recent results, including reaching his first major quarterfinal and holding a career‑high ranking, illustrate his steady rise in the game.
As one of the higher‑seeded players in Houston’s ATP 250 event, Tien will hope that combining his growing experience with Chang’s strategic coaching will pay off with a strong showing this week.
