Talent and hard work might shape champions, but sometimes, it takes something more than that. For America’s rising stars Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien, the secret to their stunning performances at the ongoing Australian Open lies in the wisdom of one man, their coach Eric Diaz. Under Diaz’s mentorship, Michelsen and Tien are thriving on the biggest stage. While others might debate what it takes to win a Slam, these two Americans already have their answer. Can they prove their worth under Diaz’s guidance?

The American duo of Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien have gained significant popularity in the ongoing Australian Open. Michelsen advanced to the Slam’s fourth round after an epic win against Karen Khachanov by 6-3, 7(7), 6(5), and 6-2. On the other hand, Tien awaits his third-round match against Corentin Moutet at the Show Court Arena today. This American youngster caught the spotlight after overpowering Daniil Medvedev in the second round in a nerve-wracking match of five sets. Along with these two, their famous coach grabbed the spotlight in the ongoing AO.

Tennis journalist Randy Walker posted on X highlighting Eric Diaz, who has been a pivotal character behind Michelsen’s impressive progress. The son of the famous coach of the University of Georgia men’s, Manny Diaz, Eric was a former tennis player who is now helping the American duo excel in the Australian Open.

When Michelsen participated in the Australian Open last season, throughout his matches, his coach Eric Diaz was in focus for his bad cop attitude that remained steadfast until the ATP star bagged a fair bit of success on the court. A few months before 2024 AO, when Michelsen played his first US Open in 2023, he had shown visible signs of frustration and stress on the court. And, Diaz was not happy about it. “There were a few hats thrown and maybe a ball that might have wandered out of the facility that might have been his fault,” he said.

The coach also walked out several of Michelsen’s matches and advised the latter to act like a professional. “If you’re going to act like a kid, then I’m going to leave. I told him afterward, ‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you are pretty good and it’s about time to let the tennis do the talking and to control the attitude. You are going to be on stages where you will have a lot of eyes on you.’ I think the realization set in and the maturity set in. He’s really carrying himself well, now,” Diaz said.

Diaz’s support has, however, remained pivotal for Michelsen since they partnered with each other in the 2023 summer. And not just Michelsen, Eric Diaz remains a great mentor for Learner Tien too. The coach remembered meeting the American powerhouse for the first time when he was just 14. Reflecting on their first meeting, Diaz highlighted how he gradually realized Tien’s potential. Now in his first AO, Tien is keeping up with his mentor’s words showing the success of their partnership.

Eric Diaz praised learner Tien highlighting the latter’s “Aura” 

Tien who bagged the USTA Boys’ 18s National Hard Court Championship twice at the age of 16 and 17 caught his current coach Eric Diaz’s attention with his calm demeanor. Reflecting on that, the American coach said, “Everybody anticipated some big things for him, but he was just a quiet kid, so it was always one of those where I was always kind of [thinking], ‘He’s young, you never know.’ But the more I got to know him, the more I recognized that the aura was there for a reason.”

Diaz’s words echoed his faith in Tien’s potential. And the youngster lived up to the expectations. Calling him a winner, the coach highlighted how Tien “just finds different ways” to prove his potential. But, how does a young player like him do that? His coach Diaz has the perfect answer to it. He attributed Tien’s success to staying “really calm.”

Last year, Tien had to stay out of action for more than three months due to a rib fracture. However, he returned in May and won 25 matches in a row since his comeback. Taking a giant leap in the ATP rankings from 473 to 107, Tien proved his potential, thanks to his coach Eric Diaz who never lost his faith in him.

Eric Diaz’s mentorship has worked well for American boys Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien, paving their path to success. Their recent performances shed light on the possibility of a remarkable future for both of them in the sport. Do you think they can make a deep run in the ongoing Australian Open? Share your thoughts in the comments below.