Tien Reclaims Next Gen Final Spot in Jeddah
Learner Tien overcomes a shaky start to reach the Next Gen ATP Finals title match again, setting up a redemption shot against Alexander Blockx under Jeddah’s bright lights.
In the electric hum of Jeddah’s arena, Learner Tien steadied his nerves on Saturday, powering past friend Nishesh Basavareddy 4-2, 4-1, 4-3(3) to secure another crack at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF crown. The 20-year-old American, top seed after a breakout year that lifted him to World No. 28, carries the sting of last year’s final loss to Joao Fonseca but now eyes a deeper run against 20-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx on Sunday. This marks him as the second player to reach multiple finals here, trailing only Alex de Minaur‘s back-to-back appearances in 2018-19.
Tien’s path twisted early with a five-set defeat to Rafael Jodar in his round-robin opener, a jolt that forced quick recalibration on these speedy indoor hard courts. He responded with straight-set victories over Martin Landaluce and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, rebuilding momentum through sharp baseline exchanges and varied serves. By the semi-final, his left-handed game hummed with control, turning a 75-minute duel into a showcase of poise despite Basavareddy’s two medical timeouts for a finger cut.
“I won the first and had chances in the second before he just ran away with it,” Tien said of his final defeat to Fonseca last year. “I will try not to let that happen tomorrow… I know Alex has been playing great this week, so I’m really excited.”
Early concessions test resolve
Tien dropped serve in the opening game of the first two sets against Basavareddy, yet he broke right back each time, using heavy topspin forehands to push his opponent deep and disrupt rhythm. The American’s cleaner ball-striking shone through, with just 19 unforced errors to Basavareddy’s 25, allowing him to dictate tempo from the baseline. This resilience echoed his season’s arc, where five Top 10 wins and a first ATP 250 title in Metz built a foundation tested by the tournament’s short sets and no-let rules.
Basavareddy, fresh off a 2-1 round-robin record and his best 2025 result in Auckland’s semis, leaned on new coach Gilles Cervara for the first time since their December team-up. But Tien’s tactical patience overwhelmed, especially in the third-set tiebreak where a crisp down-the-line backhand clinched it. The crowd’s rising pulse mirrored the shift, as the lefty’s one–two punch—serve followed by inside-out forehand—limited his friend’s flat-hitting threats.
Surface speed favors aggression
These indoor courts skid the ball low, rewarding Tien’s penetrating groundstrokes and slice backhands that keep returns neutral. Against Blockx, who has unleashed explosive serves and inside-in forehands to advance this week, Tien will mix crosscourt rallies with net rushes to vary pace and expose any over-eagerness. His error discipline positions him well, potentially adding ranking points to cap a year of adaptation from Metz glory to this high-stakes stage.
The Belgian’s underdog surge adds intrigue, pitting raw power against Tien’s experience from 12 months ago, when Fonseca pulled away in later sets. Expect the American to loop higher topspin early, slowing exchanges before accelerating with crosscourt winners to the open side. As Sunday’s 8 p.m. local final approaches, Tien’s blend of excitement and focus promises a duel where mental edges sharpen every point.
Redemption arc builds momentum
Tien’s recovery from that Jodar stumble highlights a maturity forged in 2025’s pressures, turning potential cracks into confident strides. Blockx, thriving on the surface’s speed, will test this with big first serves that jam returns, but Tien’s lefty angles could open the court for decisive patterns. In Jeddah’s charged atmosphere, this final carries the weight of futures, with Tien one victory from erasing last year’s shadow and claiming the title that beckons.
