Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 17 December 2025: The 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF got underway in fine style on Wednesday as spectators were treated to display of top-class tennis from the future stars of the men’s game.
Taking place from 17-21 December at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, the Next Gen ATP Finals is the ultimate stage for the leading players aged 20-and-under based on the season-long PIF ATP Race to Jeddah standings.
The afternoon session focused on the Red Group as sixth seed Nishesh Basavareddy opened his tournament with a 4-2, 4-3 (9-7), 3-4 (3-7), 4-2 victory over third seed Dino Prižmić. That was followed by a 3-4 (7-9), 4-2, 4-2, 4-2 win for second seed Alexander Blockx against eighth seed Justin Engel.
Blockx, 20, said: ‘Starting with Justin, what he’s doing at 18 years old is very impressive, being here already, at the Next Gen Finals. When I was his age, I was still playing juniors.
‘We started off really well, both had our chances in the first set, which he took advantage of. But I was confident I would get the break. When I broke him mid-second set it gave me a lot of confidence. The further the match went on, the better I started playing. My serve really helped me a lot today.’
The evening session saw the energy inside the stadium hit new heights, thanks to a sensational comeback victory for seventh seed Rafael Jodar over top seed, and last year’s finalist, Learner Tien. The two players are separated by 140 places in the PIF ATP Rankings, but a thrilling display of power hitting from Jodar saw the Spaniard save four match points and secure a 1-4, 4-3 (7-3), 1-4, 4-2, 4-3 (7-4) victory.
On the support he received from the fans, Jodar, 19, said: ‘It was great. People are coming to watch us, and that means a lot because we can feel their support. I’m super grateful that so many people were supporting me, and I hope it’s the same tomorrow.’
The final match of the day was similarly exhilarating, fifth seed Nicolai Budkov Kjær thrilling the crowd with a 4-1, 3-4 (7-9), 4-2, 4-3 (7-4) win over fourth seed Martin Landaluce. It leaves Budkov Kjær top of the Blue Group, level on one point with Jodar.
Day 1 at the Next Gen ATP Finals marked the beginning of a festival of tennis in Jeddah this week, which also includes an Asian Tennis Federation Under-14 tournament and from Friday a three-day visit by sports icon and Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) Ambassador Rafael Nadal.
It all serves to strengthen the Saudi tennis ecosystem, with the STF determined to inspire more people into the sport through the hosting of elite international tournaments, nationwide community programs, and player development pathways.
Since the Next Gen ATP Finals made history in 2023 as the first professional tennis tournament to be staged in Saudi Arabia, the sport’s progress in the Kingdom has been undeniable. Initiatives such as ‘Tennis for All’, in partnership with ‘Sports for All’ has taken tennis across the nation and in 2025 introduced the sport to more than 53,000 children.
Meanwhile, female participation increased by 24% in just the 12 months between the 2024 and 2025 WTA Finals presented by PIF, which have relocated to Riyadh until 2026. The effects have also been felt at the elite level; there are now a record 82 Saudi players who hold an international ranking.
Fans at King Abdullah Sports City can look forward to another day of world-class tennis on Thursday. Day 2 begins once again with the Red Group, starting with a crucial showdown between Prižmić and Engel at 2pm, followed by a top-of-the-group clash featuring Blockx and Basavareddy.
The Blue Group evening session, from 7pm, will see Budkov Kjær and Jodar put their unbeaten starts on the line, before Tien and Landaluce face each other aiming to get their campaigns up and running.
Tickets for the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals can be purchased here.