Tien’s Redemption Bid Meets Blockx’s Undefeated Surge
In Jeddah’s electric arena, Learner Tien chases last year’s ghost while Alexander Blockx charges unbeaten toward the Next Gen ATP Finals crown—a junior rivalry reignited under pro lights.
Under the humming lights of Jeddah, the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF hurtles toward its climax as Learner Tien and Alexander Blockx gear up for Sunday’s title match, not before 8 p.m. AST. The American lefty, fresh off a shaky start, eyes atonement for his 2024 championship loss to Joao Fonseca, while the towering Belgian debutant rolls in at 4-0, his heavy groundstrokes carving through opponents. This first ATP head-to-head revives their 2023 Australian Open boys’ final, where Blockx snatched a 11-9 third-set tiebreak, a defeat that still stings Tien like yesterday’s bruise.
Tien, now World No. 28 after his Metz breakthrough and five Top 10 upsets in 2025, has dropped serve 10 times this week—a crack in his armor against Blockx’s fortress, broken just five times. The Belgian’s 107 winners underscore his inside-out forehands that pin foes deep, forcing errors on these quicker hardcourts. As the lone Top 100 player here, Tien must sharpen his crosscourt backhands to disrupt that rhythm, turning potential breaks into momentum shifts.
“The only thing I remember is that it was the most heartbreaking loss of my life up to that point,” Tien said with a laugh. “We’ve obviously both improved a lot since then. I’ll have to rest up and form a new game plan. Hopefully I can come out well tomorrow. I think it will be a really tough match.”
Junior shadows sharpen pro edges
That Melbourne memory fuels Tien’s fire, a psychological edge honed over two years of pro grind. Blockx, risen to No. 101 with two Challenger titles, thrives on the symmetry, his 6’4” frame looming over net rushes and down-the-line backhands. Their paths crossed in juniors, but now the no-ad format and live scoring demand instant adaptation, where Tien’s slice backhands could jam the Belgian’s flat serves wide.
Blockx favors lefties like Tien, using height for overheads that end points abruptly, yet the American’s one–two punch—kick serve into heavy topspin forehand—might expose second-serve wobbles. This top-two-seed final echoes 2021’s Milan clash, when Carlos Alcaraz outdueled Sebastian Korda, a blueprint for young talents seizing the stage. As Tien plots adjustments, the crowd’s murmur builds, sensing a tactical duel where footwork decides the decider.
Blockx and Tien meet again
2023 Australian Open Juniors Final
2025 Next Gen ATP Final#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/kN085WXezq— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 20, 2025
Surface tempo tests resilient arcs
The Jeddah hardcourts, grippier yet swift, amplify Blockx’s aggressive returns while challenging Tien’s topspin loops to bite low. He’s clawed back from an opener where he blew four match points to Rafael Jodar, admitting the format’s quirks threw him off. “I didn’t feel super settled in when I got here,” Tien explained. “It’s not like everyone’s super match fit, especially with the different format. It throws you off. I think it helped a little bit [reaching the final last year] but I wouldn’t say it’s made a huge difference.”
Blockx, undefeated and carefree, has turned the event into a launchpad, forging off-court bonds amid the competition’s intensity. His week blends power with poise, limiting rallies to favor his 1–2 combinations that rush the net early. Tien, the returning finalist, carries unfinished business, his lefty angles poised to wrong-foot the Belgian in crosscourt exchanges.
“Against Learner, it would be a really epic one after Australia two years ago,” Blockx said before the outcome of Tien’s semi-final. “I like to play against lefties, but to be honest, I don’t care who I’m playing tomorrow, it’s going to be fun.”
Breakout stakes hang in the balance
For Blockx, a flawless run nets $539,750—topping his career earnings by over $30,000—and vaults him toward Top 100 solidity. Tien’s redemption drive, built on 2025‘s highs, demands he neutralize that serving wall with precise returns, perhaps mixing underspin to the body for variety. Off court, the Belgian cherishes the camaraderie, a quiet strength amid the arena’s pulse.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” Blockx reflected on a potential title. “But what means the most is that I had so much fun this week. I’ve enjoyed every second of it. I also got closer to the guys, who are all very nice. Relationships off the court are very important. I feel like my week couldn’t have gone any better, so I am just happy with all the matches I’ve had.”
In this charged decider, junior ghosts meet pro ambition, where one rising star’s poise cracks the other’s resolve. The trophy awaits, but the real prize lies in the steps forward, etching names into tennis’s next chapter under Jeddah’s watchful sky.
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