Turning pressure into power for next-gen contenders
As Jeddah's lights prepare to illuminate the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, three young guns—Martin Landaluce, Justin Engel, and Federico Cina—reframe the grind of a pro season through discipline and quiet rituals, channeling isolation into the drive that could redefine their futures.
In the weeks leading to the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, a fresh crop of talents arrives in Jeddah armed not just with blistering groundstrokes, but with the mental wiring to turn the court's solitude into a launchpad. The indoor hard courts there will demand quick adjustments to pace and spin, where a single inside-out forehand can shift momentum in a best-of-three-set sprint. For these 18- and 19-year-olds, the Live Race to qualify has tested their ability to harness pressure, transforming the hum of baseline rallies into fuel for breakthroughs that echo beyond the lines.
Discipline sharpens mental edges
Martin Landaluce carries a simple truth into every match: nerves signal opportunity, not obstacle, a view forged in a 2025 season of steady climbs. His second ATP Masters 1000 main-draw win arrived in Cincinnati that August, where he dissected opponents with deep crosscourt backhands before unleashing inside-in forehands to the far corner on the hard courts' brisk bounce. Just a month later, in Orleans, France, he claimed another ATP Challenger Tour title on clay, relying on patient one–two combinations to grind out points amid the surface's deliberate tempo.
At 19, this Spaniard draws from training begun at age 14 at the Rafa Nadal Academy, absorbing lessons from the 22-time major champion and former No. 1 that blend physical grind with psychological depth. Sessions with a psychologist have further refined his approach, teaching him to manage expectations from club, country, and the tour's glare while tuning out social media static. This inner work keeps him locked on tactical choices, like varying underspin to disrupt rhythm during extended exchanges.
“I like doing a lot of things outside of tennis that help me mentally. Reading, breathing exercises, meditation,” Landaluce recently told ATPTour.com. “Those things help me stay focused on court. I try to rely on discipline more than motivation. A lot of people think motivation comes first, but for me, discipline comes first and that brings motivation. You start doing something, and as you get better, you start enjoying it more. That’s where the motivation comes from.”
That discipline shines in high-stakes moments, such as Cincinnati's evening humidity where crowd murmurs tested focus, or Orleans' cooler clay slides demanding sustained footwork. It positions him to thrive in Jeddah's format, where mental resets between short sets could turn a tied breaker into a defining edge.
Rituals anchor versatile surges
Justin Engel's 2025 breakout pulses with adaptability, the German becoming the second-youngest player since 1990 to notch tour-level wins across grass, clay, and hard courts—a nod to the all-surface mastery of his inspirations. His inspired run in Stuttgart on home grass peaked with a first ATP Tour quarter-final, where low-skidding slices set up serve-volley rushes that exploited the quick bounce. In October, he outlasted Federico Cina in a Challenger final on indoor hard, mixing crosscourt angles to stretch the court before firing down-the-line passes.
Now 18, Engel stays grounded through unwavering routines that counter the tour's jet-lagged haze and empty practice echoes. Pre-match mornings always feature six eggs for steady fuel, followed by drills honing returns that redirect pace with precision. Off days bring long calls to friends, bridging the distance to recharge the joy that powers his flat serves aimed to seize control early.
“When I have to do nothing, I call my friends and we talk for almost two to three hours,” Engel said. “I always say it's not about motivation, just about discipline. I try to give my best. Of course, sometimes it's good to have motivation, but it's not important. You just need to be dedicated, to be professional and just do your thing.”
These habits proved vital in Stuttgart's partisan roar, where tiebreak pressures mirrored the Live Race stakes, yet he emerged composed, treating each surface shift as a chance to refine patterns like approaching the net after deep lobs. As Jeddah nears, this blend of ritual and resolve equips him for the finals' intensity, where quick tactical pivots on the hard courts could spark an upset run.
Connections sustain calm advances
Federico Cina builds his 2025 momentum with unflappable poise, his first tour-level victory coming at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami, where resilient defense absorbed power before counters with underspin lobs created openings on the humid hard courts. The Italian has since pushed to three ATP Challenger Tour finals, his fluid movement enabling inside-out forehands that clip lines in faster conditions. A US Open semi-finalist as a junior in 2023, he navigates the pro circuit's demands with a perspective shaped by family and simple joys.
Even amid recent illness and season fatigue, Cina leans on video chats with friends to ease homesickness during long flights, while football talks provide a mental switch from tennis's solo battles. His father, former professional Francesco Cina, offers grounded advice drawn from his own career, urging focus on enjoying practice to weather the lows. This support keeps him relaxed pre-match, channeling calm into tactical variety like backhand slices that skid low to buy time against aggressors.
“I’m usually quite relaxed, even before big matches,” Cina said. “I like to chat with my friends, maybe video call them because I don’t see them much. I like traveling and flying, but I also miss home. Still, it’s my job and I love it, so I have to do it. Recently I was a bit sick at a tournament, and this hasn’t been a great period. I’m also a bit tired after the season, but my coach and my dad remind me to keep enjoying practice. Keeping that spirit is very important, and the results will come. We talk about sport. I love my football so that helps me switch off from tennis.”
In Miami's bustling atmosphere, his debut win highlighted this equilibrium, extending rallies with depth before accelerating pace down-the-line. It carries forward to challengers, where he manages dual pressures of performance and travel, positioning him for Jeddah's cauldron—where that quiet joy might ignite breakthroughs in the short-ball format.
Threading through these paths is Landaluce's inherited mantra, a stark reminder of tennis's isolation: you're alone, so help yourself win. In the finals' glare, this self-reliance—honed across surfaces from Cincinnati's heat to Stuttgart's cheers—turns every nerve into propulsion. Their stories form the fourth installment in the Next Gen ATP series Next in Line; explore others like Wimbledon dreams, Nishikori’s run & Vinci’s courtside lessons: Next Gen stars share memories and Next Steps: How Tien, Basavareddy & Engel are making the leap, each tracing the sparks igniting tomorrow's champions.
