Day 2 Preview: Budkov Kjaer & Jodar search SF spots in Jeddah

Match Preview

Day 2 Preview: Budkov Kjaer & Jodar search SF spots in Jeddah

Blockx meets Basavareddy, Tien faces Landaluce, Prizmic takes on Engel

December 17, 2025

Excessive stakes outline Day 2 on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by PIF in Jeddah, the place gamers are vying to strengthen their positioning in Pink and Blue Group.

Thursday’s matches carry vital implications, with final 12 months’s finalist Learner Tien aiming to bounce again and keep away from slipping to 0-2 in Blue Group after relinquishing 4 match factors in a five-set defeat to Rafael Jodar. American Tien faces Martin Landaluce, whereas Blue Group Day 1 winners Jodar and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer meet.

Tien’s countryman Nishesh Basavareddy, who can also be competing in Jeddah for a second consecutive 12 months, made a successful begin on Wednesday and can now look to observe that towards second seed Alexander Blockx in Pink Group. Debutants Dino Prizmic and Justin Engel will search their first win on the 20-and-under occasion.

View Day 2 Schedule right here  | View Qualification Eventualities right here

[5] Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (NOR) vs [7] Rafael Jodar (ESP) [not before 7 p.m.]Day 1 winners Budkov Kjaer and Jodar will intention to guide their spots within the semi-finals after they face off on Thursday. The 2 have been in red-hot kind on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2025, successful seven titles between them and so they regarded sharp of their Jeddah openers. 

Jodar upset Prime 30 star Tien to document his first Prime 100 win and has fond reminiscences towards Budkov Kjaer, having crushed the Norwegian within the US Open boys’ singles ultimate in 2024. Budkov Kjaer produced an aggressive four-set show towards Landaluce to maneuver to 1-0 in round-robin play.

[1] Learner Tien (USA) vs [4] Martin Landaluce (ESP) [following Budkov Kjaer-Jodar]The robust favorite for the title in Jeddah, World No. 28 Tien will attempt to bounce again from his defeat to Jodar when he performs Spaniard Landaluce. Tien gained his maiden ATP Tour title within the ultimate week of the common season in Metz in however had his five-match successful streak ended on Day 1 in Jeddah.

Landaluce might want to earn the most important win of his profession by PIF ATP Rating if he’s to remain alive on the 20-and-under occasion. Earlier this season, the 19-year-old captured his second ATP Challenger Tour title and earned a win on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Cincinnati. Can the Spaniard clinch one other massive victory on Thursday?

[2] Alexander Blockx (BEL) vs [6] Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) [not before 3 p.m.]This conflict of 20-year-olds pits Blockx’s booming serve towards Basavareddy’s sharp return expertise. Blockx blasted 17 aces and claimed 85 per cent of his first-serve factors, in response to Infosys ATP Stats, in his opening win over Engel. In the meantime, Basavareddy displayed his aggression on second-serve returns, claiming 57 per cent of such factors towards Prizmic.

With the First-to-4 format, there may be little room for error on this tug-of-war of serve and returning, with a sole lead of Pink Group up for grabs. Basavareddy, who not too long ago welcomed coach Gilles Cervara to his workforce, is competing in Jeddah for the second consecutive 12 months, whereas Blockx is having fun with his first journey to the 20-and-under occasion. Thursday will mark the primary Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly between Blockx and Basavareddy.

[3] Dino Prizmic (CRO) vs [8] Justin Engel (GER) [2 p.m.]The great thing about round-robin motion is regardless of Prizmic and Engel’s defeats on opening day, they continue to be in competition, although with floor to make up. Prizmic, 20, defeated Engel 6-2, 6-2 at this 12 months’s ATP Challenger clay-court occasion in San Marino, the place the Croatian was a finalist. Prizmic gained two ATP Challenger titles this 12 months and reached three further finals.

Engel this season turned the second-youngest participant since 1990 to win a tour-level match (excluding Davis Cup) on all three surfaces: arduous, clay and grass. Solely Rafael Nadal completed the feat at a youthful age. The 18-year-old showcased the forehand firepower he’s able to producing in his opening match towards Blockx, and now he goals at rebounding and claiming his debut win. Blockx spoke extremely of Engel after the four-set match, calling the youngest competitor within the area “an unbelievable participant”.