Research Report: Student Tien, Martin Landaluce, Alexander Blockx eye success in Jeddah | ATP Tour

Inspection Report

Test Report: Tien, Landaluce, Blockx success in Jeddah

The ultimate summary of what every fan should know about the upcoming week

December 16, 2025

After a year of thrilling competition, the 2025 ATP Tour season comes to a close this week at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Eight players between the ages of 20 and under will fight for the title, which will start on Wednesday at King Abdullah Sports City.

Last year’s finalist, Learner Tien, is in the headlines following a successful season. He is set to make his second appearance in a row and will aim to go one better this year after losing to Joao Fonseca in the 2024 final.

Making the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the first PIF players are Alexander Blockx, Dino Prizmic, Martin Landaluce, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, Rafael Jodar and Justin Engel, while American Nishesh Basavareddy joins Tien as the only two returnees.

Ahead of the inaugural event, ATPtour.com looks at the key storylines to follow in Jeddah.

1) Merge to Rescue: Tien returns to Jeddah, this time as the best and best player, aiming to avenge his loss in last year’s final to Fonseca. The 20-year-old American has enjoyed a successful 2025 season, highlighted by his first tour title in Metz, a run to the final at the ATP 500 event in Beijing, and five wins over Top 10 opponents. Now a career-high No. 28 in the PIF ATP Rankings, he aims to close his unforgettable season by taking the title.

2) Landaluce and Jodar Represent Spain: Close countrymen, Landaluce and Jodar are set to make their debuts in Jeddah, a step up from their supporting role last year as another batting partner, respectively. In 2025, Landaluce lifted the trophy at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Orleans, France and advanced to the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati. Jodar, who currently plays for the University of Virginia, qualified for Jeddah after winning three Challenger titles in the final three months of the season. Both are placed in the Blue Group along with Tien and Budkov Kjaer.

3) Basavareddy Returns, Supported by Cervara: Basavareddy is back for his second consecutive year in Jeddah. He returns with a strong foundation, having earned tour-level match wins in Cincinnati, Winston-Salem, and Hangzhou, and reaching the semifinals in Auckland earlier in the season. Now he is aiming for big results under the guidance of new coach Gilles Cervara, who led Daniil Medvedev to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

4) Engel, Junior Player, Hunts Glory: 18-year-old Engel is the youngest player in the field and the first German to ever qualify. This season, he became the first player born in 2007 to win the Challenger title (Hamburg), and the second youngest player (after Rafael Nadal) to win the tour at all three venues. Engel now hopes to join Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Fonseca as the only winners of the 18-year-old event.

5) Budkov Kjaer Leads Five Former Junior Grand Slam Champions: Norwegian Budkov Kjaer enjoyed a season of form, winning a Tour-best four ATP Challenger Tour titles. The 2024 Wimbledon boys champion is one of five players in the field to have captured a minor Grand Slam title, along with other title winners Landaluce (US Open 2022), Blockx (Australian Open 2023), Prizmic (Roland Garros 2023), and Jodar (US Open 2024).