Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Learner Tien Wins Next Gen ATP Finals, Beats Blockx in Straight Sets in Jeddah

The 20-year-old top seed capped a breakthrough year under the event’s short-set format, reinforcing his rise into the world’s top 30.

Overview

  • Tien defeated Alexander Blockx 4-3(4), 4-2, 4-1 in just under an hour, finishing with 12 unforced errors to the Belgian’s 23.
  • Blockx, ranked around No. 116, reached the final unbeaten after dropping only two sets across group play and the semifinals.
  • Ranked No. 28, Tien rebounded from an opening round-robin loss to Rafael Jodar and beat Nishesh Basavareddy 4-2, 4-1, 4-3(3) in the semifinal.
  • The champion’s paycheck was $502,250, short of the undefeated winner’s bonus of $539,750; the showcase event provides no ATP ranking points.
  • Staged on indoor hard courts at King Abdullah Sports City, the Next Gen Finals uses best-of-five sets to four games with a 3–3 tiebreak, and Tien returned to the title match after finishing runner-up in 2024.