Student Tien completes rescue in Jeddah, captures Next Gen ATP Finals trophy | ATP Tour

Matching Report

Student Tien tops the class at the Next Gen ATP Finals

20-year-old American defeats Belgian Blockx

December 21, 2025

Disciple Tien continued his rapid rise on Sunday in Jeddah, where he lifted the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the PIF Cup to cement his status as one of tennis’ most exciting stars.

In a one-sided championship match at the prestigious 20-and-under event, the American defeated Belgian Alexander Blockx 4-3(4), 4-2, 4-1, 4-2, 4-1, avenging his runner-up finish at last year’s event in Saudi Arabia.

“I’m very excited,” Tien said of his 2025 season. “I was able to check a lot of boxes that I wanted to do this year. I had a very long list of goals that I wanted to score, and I was able to achieve a lot of them. I’m very happy.”

The title run earned Tien $502,250 in prize money and saw him become the third highest seed to claim the title, following in the footsteps of Stefanos Tsitsipas (2018) and Carlos Alcaraz (2021).

Twelve months earlier, Tien had fallen in a four-set final to Brazil’s Joao Fonseca. Since then, the left has grown in power. During an impressive 2025 campaign, he claimed his first ATP Tour title in Metz, won five top 10 titles, and reached No. 28 in the PIF ATP rankings.

Tien will look to build on that momentum in 2026, starting at next month’s Australian Open, where he made headlines last year by becoming the youngest player to reach the fourth round in Melbourne since Rafael Nadal in 2005. Tien had coach Michael Chang by his side this week and will have the American player on his way to Australia.

“I don’t feel like he’s a coach who talks a lot during games,” Tien said of Chang. But when he feels like there’s something I need to hear, he never shies away from telling me, and I think that helps me a lot.”

In front of a cheering crowd at King Abdullah Sports City, Blockx made an assured start, placing all of his first 21 points in the opening set. However, even that level proved insufficient compared to Tien’s composure, as the American held several hands to stave off the first break and take control of the match.

From there, it was all one-way traffic, with Tien very consistent and leading the way on base exchanges to earn the win in 58 minutes. The lefty saved two break points while serving for a 3-2 match but wasn’t too concerned about the timing of the delivery.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match… I don’t think he missed the first serve in the first set and a half,” Tien said. “I think he was playing well, so I’m very happy that I won.”

Time for student redemption 🏆

Tien takes care of Blockx 4-3(4) 4-2 4-1 to claim the title!
⁰#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/88RnPxLI0K

– ATP Finals Next (@nextgenfinals) December 21, 2025

Earlier this week, Tien suffered a stunning loss to Rafael Jodar before rebounding against Martin Landaluce. He then beat Nicolai Budkov Kjaer in four sets to reach the semi-finals and promptly dispatched countryman Nishesh Basavareddy to advance to the title match.

Despite his last loss, Blockx can take a lot of positives from an outstanding week in Jeddah, where he recorded victories against Justin Engel, Basavareddy, Dino Prizmic and close friend Budkov Kjaer.

“I’m really excited this week,” said Blockx. “Everything was amazing here – the organization, the staff… I think it’s one of the best events I’ve ever been to and the crowd today was amazing, too.”

Ranked 116th in the PIF ATP Rankings and a two-time ATP Challenger Tour champion in 2025, Blockx also made history as the first Belgian to compete in the Next Gen ATP Finals. While he defeated Tien in the men’s singles final of the 2023 Australian Open, the American overturned that result when it mattered most on Sunday.

Did you know?
Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz are among the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champions.