Learner Tien Eats Sliced Bread Before Getting Checked for Stomach Issues at Wimbledon

Minutes after eating a slice of bread in his second-round Wimbledon match, Learner Tien took a medical time-out for what appeared to be a stomach issue.

Learner Tien Eats Sliced Bread Before Getting Checked for Stomach Issues at Wimbledon

Learner Tien (images via X/Wimbledon)

Rising tennis star Learner Tien was hospitalized a few hours after his Wimbledon second-round loss to Marton Fucsovics. The Hungarian defeated him 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to set up a third-round clash with No. 22 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. This marked Fucsovics’ second top-20 win this season.

A bizarre incident took place in the fourth set, when Tien asked the chair umpire for some bread, which was delivered in heaps at the opening changeover. Minutes after eating the bread, the 20-year-old took a medical time-out for what appeared to be a stomach issue. The tournament physiotherapist treated him on court and stretched his knee in an effort to help him continue. However, Tien continued to struggle as Fucsovics went on to seal the win.

Even though Tien could barely move during the last two sets, Fucsovics celebrated the win with great enthusiasm, falling onto the grass and kissing his bicep. With the early elimination of top American players like Tien and Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz are expected to go deep in the tournament.

Fritz is also among the favorites for the title, although he faces the challenge of the experienced champions- Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. If Fritz wins the title, he would become the first American man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Andy Roddick at the 2003 US Open and the first American man to win Wimbledon since Pete Sampras in 2000.

RELATED
Wimbledon 2026: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Jelena Ostapenko Preview, Prediction, and Live Stream Details

Learner Tien shares a photo of a massive McDonald’s meal from his hospital bed

Learner Tien later surprised fans with an Instagram Story he shared from his hospital bed. The photo showed him lying in bed with an IV drip attached to his right arm while holding a burger in the same hand. A tray filled with McDonald’s products sat in front of him. The meal reportedly included several double cheeseburgers, Chicken McNuggets, a chicken sandwich, large fries, and a McFlurry.

Learner Tien Wimbledon 2026
Learner Tien (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Tien would now be focusing on his recovery and training for the North American swing. His best performance at Wimbledon has been reaching the second round, while his best Grand Slam result came earlier this season, when he reached the Australian Open quarterfinal.

Marton Fucsovics will lock horns with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round at Wimbledon

Marton Fucsovics and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head record. Their upcoming Wimbledon third-round match on Court 12 on Friday will mark their first meeting on grass.

Marton Fucsovics Wimbledon 2026
Marton Fucsovics (image via X/Winston-Salem Open)

Davidovich Fokina is brimming with confidence on the surface and has yet to drop a set in the tournament. The 27-year-old claimed his maiden ATP title in Mallorca last week, a breakthrough that brought immense relief after falling short in each of his previous five tour-level finals.

If the Spaniard wins his upcoming match, he will reach the second week at Wimbledon for the first time in his career. The winner of this upcoming match will either face third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or qualifier Michael Zheng in the fourth round. A potential meeting with Novak Djokovic would await in the quarterfinal.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Urges Critics to ‘Cool Off’ on Serena Williams After Her Loss on Wimbledon Comeback