Prizmic Powers Through Jeddah Pressure
Dino Prizmic shakes off a shaky Next Gen ATP Finals debut with a gritty win over Justin Engel, blending power and precision to keep his semifinal push alive in Jeddah’s fast arena.
In the buzzing indoor arena of Jeddah, where the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF test the mettle of tennis’s young elite, Dino Prizmic refused to let a debut stumble define him. The 20-year-old Croatian, third seed in the Red Group, had absorbed a four-set loss to Nishesh Basavareddy on Wednesday, his heavy topspin struggling against the court’s quick bounce. But on Thursday afternoon, December 18, 2025, he unleashed an electric blend of power and precision to outlast a spirited Justin Engel 4-1, 2-4, 4-3(3), 4-1, evening his record at 1-1 and reigniting his hopes for a semifinal berth.
Prizmic’s adaptation shone through tactical shifts, his inside-out backhands carving angles that pinned Engel deep, while quick footwork turned defensive scrambles into offensive surges. The South African countered with flat forehands crosscourt, but the Croat’s elastic movement—honed on clay yet proving versatile here—redirected momentum in the later sets. A squeaky-clean drop shot in the third drew early cheers, setting the stage for his tiebreak dominance.
“Of course [it was a must win] if I want to stay and fight for the semi-finals,” said Prizmic. “I’m very happy with my performance, I am getting better with every match. Today was a good match for me.
“The conditions are very fast, so I just tried to play better [than Wednesday] and to use fast footwork. From yesterday, I’m very happy about the performance and I think it will be even better tomorrow.”
Shaking off debut shadows
Prizmic arrived in Jeddah carrying the weight of a 2025 season marked by two ATP Challenger Tour titles on clay, his preferred surface, but plagued by early exits on faster courts. Engel exploited those doubts early, racing to a 4-2 edge in the second set with down-the-line passes that tested the Croat’s depth control. Yet Prizmic recalibrated overnight, shortening his backswing for a sharper 1–2 pattern—serve followed by heavy topspin forehands—that neutralized the pace and forced errors from the baseline.
The crowd’s energy built with each rally, their roars amplifying as he clawed back in the third, his roar after the 4-3(3) tiebreak victory echoing the arena’s hum. This wasn’t just a win; it fractured the tension of his sluggish opener, revealing a mental reset that turned vulnerability into velocity. Engel’s resilience kept sets competitive, but Prizmic’s variety—mixing underspin slices with blistering inside-in winners—disrupted any rhythm.
Precision cuts through fast courts
On these indoor hard courts, far from clay’s slide, Prizmic leaned into his backhand’s whip, firing crosscourt lasers that Engel chased in vain. He won 82% of points #InAttack, a metric capturing his aggressive conversion when dictating play, as highlighted in Tennis Insights’ breakdown via #TennisInsights, @atptour, and @nextgenfinals on December 18, 2025.
Clinical Croatian
Dino wins 82% of points #InAttack on his way to a group stage win in Jeddah
Conversion Score calculates how often a player has won a point when they have been in attack during the point #TennisInsights | @atptour | @nextgenfinals pic.twitter.com/tMIal3TioY— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) December 18, 2025
The fourth set’s decisive break came on a blistering backhand winner on the run, sending fans into a frenzy as the ball kissed the line. Prizmic’s grit proved his elasticity extends beyond surfaces, blending power with pinpoint drop shots that died just over the net. Engel’s flat hitting suited the speed but faltered against this tactical evolution, underscoring how footwork tweaks can conquer a court’s zip.
Semifinal path sharpens ahead
Now eyeing Friday’s clash with fellow debutant Alexander Blockx, Prizmic needs a strong showing to secure qualification in the unforgiving Red Group. Basavareddy, one of two returners alongside Learner Tien, could clinch a spot if he defeats Blockx on Thursday, tightening the math on sets and games. Prizmic’s Jeddah surge signals deeper growth, his blend of Croatian fire and adaptive play positioning him to thrive in this spotlight of rising stars.
The arena’s electric pulse lingers, promising more battles where every adjustment forges the next generation’s champions. With momentum building, he steps forward, ready to extend this hard-earned rhythm into the weekend’s stakes.
