The lineup for the upcoming NextGen ATP Finals is officially confirmed, featuring an exciting roster of young talent. Rafael Jodar has secured the final spot in this prestigious event, a development made possible by Joao Fonseca’s recent withdrawal.
The eight players who will compete, ranked by their standings, are as follows:
1. Jakub Mensik
2. Learner Tien
3. Alexander Blockx
4. Dino Prizmic
5. Martin Landaluce
6. Nikolai Budkov Kjaer
7. Nishesh Basavareddy
8. Rafael Jodar
Scheduled to take place from December 17 to 21 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the NextGen ATP Finals serve as the year-end championship exclusively for players aged 20 and under. This tournament mirrors the format of the Nitto ATP Finals, showcasing some of the brightest prospects in the sport.
Learner Tien, Jakub Mensik, and Nishesh Basavareddy are returning participants from last year’s tournament. In a thrilling round-robin clash during the previous event, Tien edged out Mensik in a tense fifth-set tiebreak. Mensik also had a challenging tournament, where he lost to Fonseca in another gripping fifth-set tiebreak, marking a disappointing campaign as he sought to find his footing in Jeddah. Tien ultimately finished as the runner-up against Fonseca.
Reflecting on the competitive atmosphere among his peers, Tien shared, “I think a lot of the younger guys are doing well. Sometimes it’s tough—and people come out a little better than others during the first year, as they don’t really know how a lot of the new stuff can go. But the young guys do a good job of pushing each other. Everyone wants to catch the ‘top guy.’ It’s been great all the young guys pushing each other this year.”
As these promising athletes prepare for the showdown in Jeddah, the anticipation continues to build for what is sure to be an electrifying event filled with emerging talent in professional tennis.
