Tien delivers a statement victory by defeating Cobolli
Learner Tien had a dream debut at the Laver Cup 2026 achieving one of those victories that can mark a turning point in a tennis player's career. Overcoming a Grand Slam finalist like Flavio Cobolli is quite an achievement and will significantly boost the confidence of the American, allowing Team World to tie the competition score at 3-3.
It was a match filled with long rallies and constant tactical reads from both players. On a slow court like the one at the O2 Arena, Tien's counter-attacking game can be exhausting for any opponent. In fact, Cobolli struggled tremendously at the start of the match to find a way to counteract the reliability of his opponent.
Understood the assignment 🫡
Learner Tien takes the opening set against Cobolli, 6-3.#LaverCup #TennisUnrivaled pic.twitter.com/nupTYWi564— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 26, 2026
The Italian found his best level again in the second set, leading the match to the decisive super tiebreak where both players showcased their best tennis moments. Tien ultimately prevailed in cooler and more calculated moments, winning 6-3 2-6 10-7 and giving real hope to the Team World to potentially head into Sunday with a lead on the scoreboard.
The Team Europe will need to regroup quickly, now relying on the expected superiority of Zverev and Alcaraz. If either of them falters, the task could become very complicated for the Europeans in this Laver Cup 2026. Strong emotions are anticipated this Saturday afternoon at the O2 Arena in London, with a unique atmosphere and the feeling that this edition could reach a stage of great equality.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tien da un golpe de autoridad venciendo a Cobolli