Joao Fonseca has officially announced his withdrawal from the upcoming NextGen ATP Finals set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from December 17 to 21. The decision comes after what has been a grueling first full season for the 19-year-old, who previously secured the title at this event last year. Citing an injury as a contributing factor, Fonseca’s choice to step back seems primarily driven by the desire to rest and prepare for what could be an exciting 2026 season, especially with an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz scheduled for December 8 in Miami.
The NextGen ATP Finals is an esteemed year-end championship, mirroring the Nitto ATP Finals but exclusively featuring the top eight male players aged 20 and under. In Fonseca’s absence, Jakub Mensik, currently the top contender in the race for Jeddah, has confirmed his participation. The 19-year-old Czech player expressed his delight at qualifying for the finals for a second consecutive year. Mensik reflected on his successful season, which included winning his first ATP title at the Masters 1000 event in Miami, and noted that finishing the year ranked in the top 20 adds even more significance to his achievements.
Mensik faced a challenging group during last year’s finals, going winless against formidable opponents like Fonseca, Arthur Fils, and Learner Tien. In a testament to the competitive spirit of the event, he narrowly lost both matches against Fonseca and Tien in fifth-set tiebreakers, indicating just how closely contested those matches were.
As the event approaches, other players securing qualifying positions include Tien, Alexander Blockx, Dino Prizmic, Martin Landaluce, Nikolai Budkov Kjaer, Nishesh Basavareddy, and Rafael Jodar. With competition heating up, fans of the NextGen ATP Finals can look forward to an exciting showcase of young talent, even as Fonseca takes the time to recuperate ahead of his next battles on the court.
