"Medvedev and Tien are two brilliant analysts"

Andrés Tomás Rico - 16 Sep 2026 | 14:00
ATP Jim Courier Daniil Medvedev Learner Tien

Jim Courier asserts that both the Russian and the American "have fewer resources and therefore must pay more attention to what is happening on the other side of the net."

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"Medvedev and Tien are two brilliant analysts." Photo: Getty Images

In today's tennis, where power, aggression, and explosive physicality dominate, it is refreshing to see special cases of players where tactics still prevail, where they seek the weaknesses of their opponents while knowing how to defend and rely on their strengths to win the match. This is the case with Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien.

This is confirmed by Jim Courier in an interview with the media 'Defector,' where he praised the Russian and American's know-how. In fact, with this style of play, Medvedev reached number one in the world, won the US Open 2021, and has accumulated 23 titles to his name. Meanwhile, Tien, who has only been in the elite for two years, already has two ATP titles and some Masters 1000 semifinal appearances.

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Courier gushed about Medvedev and Tien

The former number one in the world and current commentator explained the reasons for his admiration for both: “I think Medvedev is undoubtedly a brilliant analyst. Who else is great? Intuitively, players like Learner Tien, who have fewer resources, must pay more attention to what is happening on the other side of the net, and they are specialists in breaking defense and knocking down. Learner is very good at that. I think Gilles Simon was amazing at that. There have been many over the years, but I’m really fascinated by Learner entering the space he is in now with Michael Chang, who is another brilliant mind. It will be fun to see what they do together. In fact, it already has been.”

Courier continued to praise Tien's game but highlighted what he needs to improve: “He has progressed in increasing the speed of his shots, although he had elbow problems this summer. I’m curious to see if he maintains the speed of his serve because it was very low in Canada. Still, he managed, but that poses a disadvantage if you lose between 8 and 10 miles per hour on the first serve.”

Moreover, he dared to predict the future of the young American player: “I don’t know when he will be among the top 10, but it will be pretty soon; he is about to achieve it, and it seems to me that a career in the style of David Ferrer is almost certain. Will he be able to break that barrier with Sinner and Alcaraz ahead? It remains to be seen, and I think he has the mindset to do it.

While he also broke down the Russian's tennis: “Medvedev is a fascinating character. He has many quirks. Even the way he, immediately after a point, nobody does what he does. He faces his opponent instantly, straightens his shoulders. He doesn’t turn or hide. It’s incredible to watch him return. I’m fascinated by many things about him,” concluded Jim Courier, who maintains hope for a more tactical and composed tennis with Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, "Medvedev y Tien son dos analistas brillantes"