ATP Next Gen Finals 2025 Preview: Is Learner Tien the Man to Beat?

By Tomasz Wilk

23 Dec 2025

Tomasz Wilk 23 Dec 2025

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Learner Tien is the clear favorite at the 2025 ATP Next Gen Finals in Jeddah
Both Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik are absent, creating fresh opportunities
Tien’s prior ATP Tour experience and past tournament success boost his advantage

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 20: A general view of play during the Men's Singles Group Stage match between Jakub Mensik of Czech Republic and Joao Fonseca of Brazil on day three of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF at King Abdullah Sports City on December 20, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

The 2025 Field: Opportunity Opens Up
Group Line-Ups Overview
Why Learner Tien Is the Clear Favourite
Who Can Trouble Him?
A Tournament Defined by Its Alumni

The ATP Next Gen Finals return for their eighth edition in 2025, once again played indoors in Jeddah on fast-to-medium hard courts. By now, this event has earned real credibility. Past winners like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz did not just pass through this stage, they used it as a launchpad. That history has turned the trophy into something meaningful, a signal that a player is ready to move from prospect to contender.

For the eight players in the field, the incentive is simple. A strong week in Jeddah changes how you are viewed on tour. Win the title and you stop being talked about as someone to watch in the future. You start being treated as someone who belongs in the conversation right now.

The 2025 Field: Opportunity Opens Up

Learner Tien & Joao Fonseca — JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 22: Learner Tien of USA , runner up and Joao Fonseca of Brazil ,winner, pose for a photo with their trophies after the Men's Final match on day five of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF at King Abdullah Sports City on December 22, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

This year’s edition comes with a slightly different feel. The absence of Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik has taken some of the edge off the hierarchy compared to recent seasons, creating a field with fewer obvious pressure points.

That shift places Learner Tien at the centre of the conversation in Jeddah. He arrives as the highest-ranked and most accomplished player in the draw, a position that brings clarity rather than surprise. In an event that often rewards players who compete with conviction and purpose, that kind of standing can be a real advantage.

Group Line-Ups Overview

With no room for slow starts in a round-robin format, consistency matters as much as upside. Players who can reproduce patterns and manage matches day after day tend to rise, and that underlying dynamic quietly leans toward Learner Tien across this field.

Group A

Player	Country
Learner Tien	United States
Martin Landaluce	Spain
Nicolai Budkov Kjær	Norway
Rafael Jódar	Spain

Group B

Player	Country
Alexander Blockx	Belgium
Dino Prižmić	Croatia
Nishesh Basavareddy	USA
Justin Engel	Germany

Why Learner Tien Is the Clear Favourite

Daniil Medvedev & Learner Tien — SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Daniil Medvedev shaking hands with Learner Tien of the United States in front net after his win the Men's singles round of 16 match on Day 10 of 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters at Qi Zhong Tennis Center on October 08, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

The case for Learner Tien starts with experience, and nobody else in this field can really match it. While most of his peers are still dipping in and out of tour-level events, Tien spent the bulk of 2025 competing full time on the main ATP Tour. That matters here. He has already lived through the week-to-week grind, handled expectations, and learned how to close matches when he is supposed to win.

There is pedigree behind it too. Tien went close to his maiden ATP title in Beijing, only to be stopped by Jannik Sinner, and soon after he broke through properly by claiming his first ATP trophy in Metz. That run pushed him comfortably inside the top 30 by season’s end. Add in his indoor skill set, built around early ball timing, control of tempo, and low error tolerance, and the fit for Jeddah becomes obvious. In a short-format event where mistakes are punished quickly, reliability is often the difference.

Just as important is what he has already done at this tournament. Tien is not arriving blind to the conditions or the format. He made his debut here in 2024 and played with authority well beyond his ranking at the time, beating proven names and pushing the eventual champion all the way. That memory alone sets him apart from the rest of this field.

Learner Tien at the 2024 ATP Next Gen Finals

Date	Match	Round	Result
22.12	Joao Fonseca vs Tien	Final	2-4, 4-3, 4-0, 4-2
21.12	Tien vs Alex Michelsen	Semifinal	2-4, 4-2, 1-4, 4-0, 4-1
20.12	Tien vs Arthur Fils	Group	4-2, 4-2, 3-4, 4-3
19.12	Joao Fonseca vs Tien	Group	4-0, 4-0, 1-4, 4-2
18.12	Tien vs Jakub Mensik	Group	4-3, 4-3, 2-4, 2-4, 4-3

Put simply, no one else here combines tour-level seasoning, recent silverware, and prior success at this very event. That combination is why Tien starts this week as the clear reference point.

Who Can Trouble Him?

Nishesh Basavareddy & Novak Djokovic — MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 13: Nishesh Basavareddy of the United States leaves Rod Laver Arena after defeat as he is applauded by Novak Djokovic of Serbia following their Men's Singles First Round match during day two of the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

While Learner Tien will take some stopping in Jeddah, this is still a field full of high-end talent. If one of these players clicks at their peak on the day, an upset is not out of the question. The margin in this format is thin, and short matches can swing quickly if momentum turns.

Players like Martin Landaluce, Alexander Blockx, and Nishesh Basavareddy all have the tools to go toe to toe with Tien. The real question is not skill, but sustainability. Matching Tien’s level for flashes is one thing. Holding that intensity, discipline, and clarity long enough to actually finish the job is a far more demanding challenge.

A Tournament Defined by Its Alumni

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 13: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with the trophy after his win over Sebastian Korda of USA in the final match during Day Five of the Next Gen ATP Finals at Palalido Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

What ultimately elevates the Next Gen Finals is its recent alumni list. When players like Sinner and Alcaraz won here, it was clear in hindsight that the event had identified something real rather than speculative.

Past Champions

Year	Venue	Champion	Runner-up	Final Score
2017	Milan	Chung Hyeon	Andrey Rublev	3–4, 4–3, 4–2, 4–2
2018	Milan	Stefanos Tsitsipas	Alex de Minaur	2–4, 4–1, 4–3, 4–3
2019	Milan	Jannik Sinner	Alex de Minaur	4–2, 4–1, 4–2
2020	Milan	—	—	No competition (COVID-19)
2021	Milan	Carlos Alcaraz	Sebastian Korda	4–3, 4–2, 4–2
2022	Milan	Brandon Nakashima	Jiri Lehecka	4–3, 4–3, 4–2
2023	Jeddah	Hamad Medjedovic	Arthur Fils	3–4, 4–1, 4–2, 3–4, 4–1
2024	Jeddah	Joao Fonseca	Learner Tien	2–4, 4–3, 4–0, 4–2

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