Francis Tiafoe needed three sets to defeat fellow American Learner Tien and reach the round of 16 at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, and Tien joked with Tiafoe at the conclusion of the match that Tiafoe's recent injury and surgery must have been fake.
"Your wrist is not injured, bro," Tien said to Tiafoe at the net. "Your wrist is not injured. You're lying. That surgery was fake. That surgery was fake. You're lying. You're lying. Your wrist is fine. Your wrist is fine. Stop lying. Stop lying."
Tiafoe laughed throughout the apparently good-natured exchange.
Tiafoe had surgery earlier in the month to remove a cyst from his right wrist/hand, which forced his retirement from a match in Montreal.
Tiafoe will have his hands full in the next round at Lindner
Family Tennis Center, scheduled to face second seed Félix Auger-Aliassime.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Learner Tien jokes to Francis Tiafoe, 'Your wrist is not injured, bro'
