Tien’s Left-Handed Fire Ignites Jeddah Triumph
Learner Tien turned last year’s sting into Sunday’s surge, dismantling Alexander Blockx in a swift final that crowned his breakout year at the Next Gen ATP Finals.
In the electric hum of King Abdullah Sports City, Learner Tien gripped his racquet with the quiet fire of unfinished business. The 20-year-old American, fresh off a 2025 season that included a first ATP Tour title in Metz and five Top 10 upsets, faced Alexander Blockx in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF championship. What unfolded was a 58-minute dissection: 4-3(4), 4-2, 4-1, a left-handed clinic that avenged his runner-up heartbreak to Joao Fonseca twelve months prior.
Tien’s composure cracked open the match early. Blockx, the 20-year-old Belgian ranked No. 116 and a two-time Challenger champion this year, poured in all 21 first serves of the opener, 24 total, his down-the-line backhands slicing through the indoor air. But Tien pounced on errant forehands, snaring the tie-break with inside-in precision that pulled the court wide and left no reply.
“I’m super happy,” Tien said about his 2025 season. “I was able to check a lot of boxes that I wanted to this year. I had a pretty long list of goals I wanted to hit, and I was able to get most of them. I’m really happy.”
Resilience rebuilds after early jolt
Tien’s path to the final wasn’t a straight line. A round-robin stumble against Rafael Jodar shook his stride, but he steadied against Martin Landaluce, his one–two serve-forehand combo carving openings in crosscourt exchanges. From there, victories over Nicolai Budkov Kjaer in four sets and countryman Nishesh Basavareddy in the semis rebuilt the momentum, each point a step away from the season’s grind.
Coach Michael Chang‘s steady presence anchored it all. The former prodigy spoke sparingly during matches, but his timely interventions cut through the noise, helping Tien navigate the mental weight of climbing to a career-high No. 28 in the PIF ATP Rankings. As the crowd’s cheers swelled under the arena lights, Tien’s focus sharpened, turning potential doubt into dominant baseline rallies.
This title, the third for a top seed after Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2018 and Carlos Alcaraz in 2021, netted $502,250 and echoed the paths of Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz as Next Gen alumni. Blockx, despite the loss, etched his mark as the first Belgian here, with wins over Justin Engel, Basavareddy, Dino Prizmic, and close friend Budkov Kjaer underscoring his rise since topping Tien in the 2023 Australian Open boys’ final.
Serve storm meets unyielding returns
Blockx’s opener threatened a serve fest, his mid-120s deliveries kicking high off the fast indoor hardcourts. Tien absorbed it all, stepping inside the baseline to chip underspin returns that neutralized the spin, setting up heavy topspin forehands down-the-line. By the second set, the Belgian’s footwork faltered in transitions, his flat groundstrokes sailing long under the pressure of Tien’s depth.
At 3-2 in the decider, serving for the match, Tien faced two break points, his slice backhand low and skidding to blunt Blockx’s aggression. A deep kick serve to the body cramped the right-hander’s stance, and an inside-out winner escaped the trap, sealing control. The American’s patterns—varying angles from crosscourt to inside-in—left Blockx chasing shadows, the crowd’s roar peaking with each unforced error.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match… I don’t think he missed a first serve for the first set and a half,” Tien said. “I think he’s been playing great, so I’m just really happy to get through.”
Learner’s redemption moment
Tien takes care of Blockx 4-3(4) 4-2 4-1 to claim the title!
⁰#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/88RnPxLI0K— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 21, 2025
Melbourne horizon sharpens focus
Tien’s gaze now turns to the Australian Open next month, where his 2025 fourth-round run marked him as the youngest there since Rafael Nadal in 2005. With Chang in his corner, the left-hander carries this Jeddah momentum into Melbourne’s outdoor pace, his game evolving from Challenger grit to tour contention. Blockx, reflecting on the week, savored the vibe.
“I’ve had a lot of fun this week,” Blockx said. “Everything was amazing here — the organisation, the staff… I think it’s one of the best events I’ve been to and the crowd today was amazing, also.”
As 2025 fades, Tien’s redemption arc signals more than a trophy—it’s the spark of a career accelerating toward the majors, where his tactical edge and mental steel will face the tour’s fiercest tests.
