The anticipation is building as the NextGen ATP Finals prepare to kick off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, showcasing some of the brightest emerging talents in men’s tennis. The event, which begins on Wednesday, features top seed Learner Tien alongside Rafael Jodar, as well as Martin Landaluce and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer. Tien, an American ranked 28th in the world, returns for his second consecutive year aiming to improve on his impressive performance from 2022 when he made it to the final after a strong showing in the round-robin stage.
Learner Tien enters this year’s competition riding high after claiming his first ATP title last month in Metz. He overcame Cameron Norrie in a thrilling final that ended with a scoreline of 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6). On Wednesday, Tien will square off against Rafael Jodar, marking their inaugural meeting on the professional circuit. Jodar, currently ranked 168th, had a standout collegiate career at the University of Virginia and has recently made waves on the Challenger circuit, securing three titles, two of which came in his last three tournaments. Despite Jodar’s strong recent form, Tien’s experience and momentum position him as the favorite.
In the other highly anticipated matchup, fourth seed Martin Landaluce faces fifth seed Nicolai Budkov Kjaer. Both players are only 19 years old and are positioned just a few spots apart in the ATP rankings, with Landaluce sitting at 134 and Budkov Kjaer closely following at 136. However, history favors Landaluce, who has triumphed over Kjaer in all three of their previous encounters this year. Their most recent clash was a tightly contested battle on indoor hard courts, where Landaluce seized victory with a score of 6-4, 6-4. This record gives Landaluce a psychological edge heading into their meeting.
As the excitement builds around these matchups, tennis fans can expect a fantastic start to the NextGen ATP Finals. With players eager to make their mark, the stage is set for a thrilling day of tennis that could shape the future of the ATP Tour.
