Disciple Tien faces undefeated Alexander Blockx in bid for Next Gen ATP Finals redemption | ATP Tour
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Tien faces undefeated Blockx in a bid for redemption at the Next Gen ATP Finals
Last year’s finalist Tien meets Blockx for the first time on Sunday no earlier than 8 pm AST/ 6 pm CET
December 20, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Student Tien and Alexander Blockx will compete for the title at the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals on Sunday in Jeddah.
Written by Jerome Coombe
Who will be crowned the new rising star of tennis at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah?
Top seeds Student Tien and Alexander Blockx will compete in Sunday’s title match, scheduled for no earlier than 8pm AST (6pm CET), after both players made strong statements throughout the week. Armed with solid groundstrokes on both wings, 6’4” rookie Blockx enters the finals with an unblemished 4-0 record, while Tien is finding his rhythm after a shaky start as he looks to make amends for his championship match loss to Joao Fonseca in 2024.
There is also a subtle but meaningful last clip. Blockx defeated Tien in the men’s final of the 2023 Australian Open, including a stunning third break 11-9. It was a spectacular encounter – perhaps a glimpse of what to expect in Jeddah – and one that remains etched in the American’s memory.
“The only thing I remember is that it was the saddest loss of my life up to that point,” Tien said with a laugh. “Obviously we’ve both improved a lot since then. I’ll have to rest and work on a new game plan. Hopefully I’ll be good tomorrow. I think it’s going to be a really tough game.”
While the pair crossed paths in the minors, Sunday’s clash marks their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. It also represents the first final between the tournament’s top two seeds since 2021, when Carlos Alcaraz defeated Sebastian Korda in Milan.
Tien, World No. 28, won his first ATP Tour title in Metz last month and has five wins for Top 10 players in 2025. The 20-year-old is also the only Top 100 player in the Jeddah field, but Blockx will be up for the fight.
“If we face Pupil, it will be a milestone after Australia two years ago,” said Blockx before Tien’s semi-final result. “I like to play left, but to be honest, I don’t care who I play tomorrow, it will be fun.”
Blockx and Tien meet again 🏆
2023 ➡️ Australian Open Juniors Final
2025 ➡️ Next Gen ATP Final#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/kN085WXezq– ATP Finals Next (@nextgenfinals) December 20, 2025
Tien dropped serve 10 times en route to the final, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Against fearless Blockx, who has been broken just five times this week, the American will need to bolster those numbers in Sunday’s decider.
Belgium’s Blockx, who has 107 wins from his four wins, looked at home in his first appearance at the 20-and-under event. In contrast, Tien – one of the only returnees – recovered from a slow start before finding his best tennis when it mattered most.
“I didn’t feel settled when I got here,” said Tien, who dropped four match points to Rafael Jodar in his first match. “It’s not a good fit for everyone, especially in a different format. It throws you off. I think it helped a little bit. [reaching the final last year] but I wouldn’t say it made a big difference.”
Off the court, Blockx has made the most of his time in Jeddah, using the event as an opportunity to build friendships with his competitors – a trait he values greatly.
“It would mean a lot,” Blockx said of the chance to win the title. “But what explains the most is that I am very happy this week. I enjoyed every second. I got close to the boys again, they are very nice. Relationships outside the court are very important. I feel like my week could not have been better, so I am happy with all the games I had.”
Having won two ATP Challenger Tour titles and climbed to a career-high No. 101 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2025, Blockx appears poised for a Top 100 breakthrough. Yet another victory in Jeddah could change the course of his young career.
The undefeated title run could earn the 20-year-old $539,750, a total that exceeds his previous career prize money by more than $30,000. Standing in his way is Tien, who comes with his unfinished business, determined to go one step further than last season and guarantee his success in 2025 by lifting the trophy from his hands in 2024.
