Learner Tien, the 20-year-old American tennis star, was rushed to hospital hours after his second-round defeat to Marton Fucsovics at Wimbledon on Wednesday. Despite the health scare, Tien posted a photo on social media showing him in a hospital bed with an IV drip, surrounded by a large McDonald's takeaway order, which he reportedly consumed totaling 4,500 calories.
Match and Health Issues
Tien lost 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to the Hungarian. He took a medical timeout during the match due to a stomach issue, and was seen eating a plain slice of bread during the first changeover of the fourth set. The stomach problem affected his performance, leading to his exit from the tournament.
Social Media Post and Reaction
After the match, Tien shared an image of himself in a hospital bed, prompting concerns among fans. However, the McDonald's feast on the table suggested the issue was not severe. The post marked a disappointing end to Tien's grass court campaign, as he failed to improve on his second-round showing from the previous year.
Looking Ahead
Assuming full recovery, Tien will focus on the North American hard court series. He has never progressed beyond the first round at the US Open, his home Grand Slam, and is eager to change that. Legendary American tennis star John McEnroe previously tipped Tien to reach a Slam final, a compliment Tien acknowledged humbly.
Reacting to McEnroe's praise, Tien said: "I would never go out and say I have the best shot of anybody, because the US has a great crop of young guys who are really making big strides, especially on the clay. The results are obviously going in the right direction for Americans on clay. Personally, I think that I do have a game that can suit the clay. Obviously it's not something that I grew up playing on, but with more time, and I just think more experience on the clay, I do think that I can have success on this surface. But I think for a lot of Americans that is the case. A lot of us just haven't really been exposed to the surface and just the more we get on, the more matches we play, just helps a lot."
