Associates Flip Foes: Tien meets Basavareddy, Blockx faces Budkov Kjaer in Jeddah SFs

Subsequent Gen ATP Finals

Associates Flip Foes: Tien meets Basavareddy, Blockx faces Budkov Kjaer in Jeddah SFs

Preview the Subsequent Gen ATP offered by PIF semi-finals

December 19, 2025

Associates collide on Saturday as American Learner Tien faces countryman Nishesh Basavareddy and Alexander Blockx meets Nicolai Budkov Kjaer for a spot within the championship match on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF.

Shut associates Blockx and Budkov Kjaer sq. off within the first semi-final at 7 p.m native time, adopted by the all-American battle between final 12 months’s finalist Tien and sixth seed Basavareddy, not earlier than 9 p.m.

It’s a memorable stage for gamers who grew up crossing paths on the junior circuit, and at the moment are reunited in Jeddah, standing throughout the web from one another and inside one win of a last berth on the 20-and-under occasion.

[1] Learner Tien (USA) vs [6] Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) [not before 9 p.m.]The one gamers on this 12 months’s area who’re making their second consecutive look, Tien and Basavareddy carry added expertise to the semi-finals. The lefty Tien cracked the High 30 of the PIF ATP Rankings in November following his maiden tour-level triumph in Metz.

The 20-year-old has constructed his successful streak to eight consecutive matches and can put that to the check towards Basavareddy, who he defeated 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 at this 12 months’s Wimbledon, their lone Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly.

“We’ve performed a good bit since we have been very younger,” Tien mentioned of Basavareddy. “We grew up fairly shut to one another, each from the States, so we’d see one another at a variety of Challengers. It’s been cool for him to make his approach up as I’ve been making my approach up. It’s nice to see a well-known face at these tournaments, so I feel It’ll be cool to share the courtroom with him.”

The conflict between Tien and Basavareddy guarantees to be a tug of battle in courtroom protection and a life-size chess match from the baseline. Each gamers have comparatively new voices of their nook. Basavareddy this month introduced his new partnership with Gilles Cervara, a famend coach who most lately labored with Daniil Medvedev. Former World No. 2 Michael Chang coaches Tien, after formally becoming a member of the lefty’s staff in August.

[2] Alexander Blockx (BEL) vs [5] Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (NOR) [starts at 7 p.m.]Each gamers possess the power to tear the felt off the ball from the primary strike, every averaging 11 aces per match this week, based on Infosys ATP Stats. Management of the baseline will probably be paramount as Blockx and Budkov Kjaer battle to dictate rallies of their maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head conflict. Within the first-to-4 format, there isn’t any margin for error.

“I feel I’ve a giant serve,” Budkov Kjaer mentioned earlier than the event. “That’s the key factor for me if I wish to beat the perfect guys, I’ve to have that within the toolbox.”

Blockx and Budkov Kjaer are shut associates who each claimed junior Slam titles earlier than transitioning to skilled tennis. Blockx received the 2023 Australian Open boys’ singles occasion — defeating Tien within the last — whereas Budkov Kjaer captured the 2024 Wimbledon junior crown.

The second seed Blockx is into the semi-finals after posting an ideal 3-0 report in round-robin motion. Budkov Kjaer started the week 2-0 earlier than struggling a four-set loss to Tien on Thursday. Budkov Kjaer’s head-to-head win towards Rafael Jodar was sufficient for the 19-year-old to safe second place over the Spaniard, who additionally completed 2-1 in Blue Group. The Oslo native, one in all six gamers to win a season-leading 4 ATP Challenger titles this season, is the second Norwegian (Casper Ruud) to compete on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals offered by PIF.