Learner Tien is a man in form.

The 18-year-old former junior world No. 4 continued his impressive transition to the professional game by notching his 25th consecutive match-win - and fifth straight professional singles title - in the final at M15 Lakewood on the ITF World Tennis Tour on Sunday.

Tien defeated compatriot Govind Nanda 6-3 6-3 in the title-match for his latest triumph - the eighth professional singles crown of his fledgling career - in a hugely impressive seven-week spell that saw him climb 170 spots to within touching distance of the ATP Top 250 at No. 269.

"It feels good," said Tien, rather understatedly. "I'm happy I made it through the week. I'm a little tired but feel ok. It's been tough mentally after a long week and to get right back to it. I'm just glad I got through another week."

Tien, who enjoyed a impressive junior career headlined by a run to the final at both the Australian Open and US Open boys' events in 2023, has certainly discovered a feel for winning in recent weeks. So much so, that it's quite impressive that he can remember when he last lost a match. 

"I don’t know when he’ll lose again. At this point he’s rising pretty fast”

"It was when I got hurt," said Tien, who fractured a rib during a first round defeat to William Grant at M25 Naples in February and didn't strike a competitive ball again until 27 May, when he began his streak with a first-round victory over Braden Shick at M15 San Diego. He went on to take back-to-back titles in San Diego, before sandwiching titles at M15 Rancho Santa Fe and M15 Lakewood either side of claiming his first ATP Challenger title at Bloomfield Hills.

“I haven’t thought about the streak that much," Tien insists. "I’m just taking it one match at a time and trying not to overthink it. This week was a lot tougher mentally for me than physically.”

His final opponent, mind you, thinks it'll be tough for anyone to bring an end to Tien's dazzling run.

“Man, Learner’s just super tough and doesn’t have any holes,” said Nanda. “He moves you around a lot and plays very high percentage and then kind of pulls the trigger when he wants to without much risk.

“You have to make a lot of balls and you have to be able to hurt him when you can. I don’t know when he’ll lose again. At this point he’s rising pretty fast.”