Match Report
Learner Tien tops the category at Subsequent Gen ATP Finals
20-year-old American defeats Belgian Blockx
December 21, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Learner Tien celebrates profitable the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by PIF crown.
By Sam Jacot
Learner Tien continued his speedy rise on Sunday in Jeddah, the place he lifted the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by PIF trophy to additional cement his standing as one among tennis’ most enjoyable younger stars.
In a largely one-sided championship match on the prestigious 20-and-under occasion, the American defeated 20-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx 4-3(4), 4-2, 4-1, avenging his runner-up end on the occasion a yr in the past in Saudi Arabia.
“I’m tremendous completely satisfied,” Tien mentioned about his 2025 season. “I used to be capable of verify a number of bins that I wished to this yr. I had a reasonably lengthy record of targets I wished to hit, and I used to be capable of get most of them. I’m actually completely satisfied.”
The title run earned Tien $502,250 in prize cash and noticed him change into simply the third high seed to seize the title, following within the footsteps of Stefanos Tsitsipas (2018) and Carlos Alcaraz (2021).
Twelve months earlier, Tien had fallen in a four-set last to Brazil’s Joao Fonseca. Since then, the left-hander has gone from energy to energy. Throughout a powerful 2025 marketing campaign, he claimed his first ATP Tour title in Metz, notched 5 High 10 victories, and surged to a career-high No. 28 within the PIF ATP Rankings.
Tien will now look to construct on that momentum in 2026, starting at subsequent month’s Australian Open, the place he made headlines final yr by turning into the youngest participant to achieve the fourth spherical in Melbourne since Rafael Nadal in 2005. Tien had coach Michael Chang by his facet this week and may have the American with him when he travels to Australia.
“I don’t really feel like he’s a coach that claims quite a bit throughout matches,” Tien mentioned of Chang. “However when he looks like I would like to listen to one thing, he’s by no means shying away from telling me, and I believe that helps me quite a bit.”
In entrance of a vigorous crowd at King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis, Blockx made an assured begin, touchdown all 21 of his first serves within the opening set (and 24 total). But even that degree proved inadequate towards Tien’s composure, because the American seized on a handful of free forehands to edge the first-set tie-break and seize management of the match.
From there, it was one-way visitors, with Tien too constant and dominant within the baseline exchanges to earn victory in 58 minutes. The lefty crucially saved two break factors when serving for the match at 3-2 however was largely untroubled on supply.
“I knew it was going to be a troublesome match… I don’t suppose he missed a primary serve for the primary set and a half,” mentioned Tien. “I believe he’s been taking part in nice, so I’m simply actually completely satisfied to get by.”
Learner’s redemption second 🏆
Tien takes care of Blockx 4-3(4) 4-2 4-1 to assert the title!⁰#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/88RnPxLI0K
— Subsequent Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 21, 2025
Earlier this week, Tien suffered a shocking opening round-robin defeat to Rafael Jodar earlier than he responded towards Martin Landaluce. He then beat Nicolai Budkov Kjaer in 4 units to achieve the semi-finals and shortly dispatched countryman Nishesh Basavareddy to advance to the title match.
Regardless of his last defeat, Blockx can take loads of positives from a standout week in Jeddah, the place he recorded wins towards Justin Engel, Basavareddy, Dino Prizmic and shut pal Budkov Kjaer.
“I’ve had a number of enjoyable this week,” mentioned Blockx. “Every thing was wonderful right here — the organisation, the workers… I believe it’s the most effective occasions I’ve been to and the gang at this time was wonderful, additionally.”
Ranked No. 116 within the PIF ATP Rankings and a two-time ATP Challenger Tour champion in 2025, Blockx additionally made historical past as the primary Belgian to compete on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals. Whereas he had overwhelmed Tien within the 2023 Australian Open boys’ singles last, the American reversed that end result when it mattered most on Sunday.
Did You Know?Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz are among the many former Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by PIF champions.
