Jeddah – BETH

The Next Gen ATP Finals got underway on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the indoor arena of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, organized by the Saudi Tennis Federation, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport, and sponsored by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The opening day witnessed a major upset, as top seed Learner Tien of the United States was eliminated after a narrow defeat to Spain’s Rafael Jodar, ranked seventh, by three sets to two, in the Blue Group. Meanwhile, Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjær secured a solid victory over Spain’s Martin Landaluce.

In the Red Group, American Nishesh Basavareddy opened his campaign with a convincing three-sets-to-one win over Croatia’s Dino Prizmic, while Belgium’s Alexander Blockx defeated Germany’s Justin Engel by the same margin.

The competition continues on Thursday, December 18, with the second round of matches. Justin Engel faces Dino Prizmic, while Basavareddy takes on Blockx in the Red Group. In the Blue Group, Jodar meets Kjær, and Landaluce plays Tien.

Players’ Reactions: Focus and Symbolic Value

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Alexander Blockx attributed his victory to the strength of his serve and effective energy management, noting that he will approach every upcoming match as a “future final.”

Spain’s Rafael Jodar highlighted the symbolic and sporting significance of the tournament for Saudi Arabia, praising the strong fan attendance and stressing that sustained pressure was key to his opening victory.

Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjær emphasized the importance of mental focus under the tournament’s unique format, adding that the enthusiastic support from Saudi fans came as a welcome surprise and provided strong motivation.

The Next Gen ATP Finals further reflect Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in international tennis, as the Kingdom continues to host major global tournaments in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.