ATP Finals Open With Upsets and Rising Stars in Jeddah

Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien secure surprise wins, while Alex Michelsen and Luca Van Assche make strong starts in the prestigious under-21 tournament.

Brazil's Joao Fonseca stunned top-seeded Arthur Fils in a five-set thriller, marking his first Top 20 win and continuing his strong form against the Frenchman.
Learner Tien of the United States edged out Jakub Mensik in another five-set battle, saving a match point to claim his opening victory in the Blue Group.
Alex Michelsen, the second seed, defeated fellow American Nishesh Basavareddy in his opener, earning his first win at the Next Gen ATP Finals after going winless last year.
France's Luca Van Assche, a semi-finalist in 2023, overcame China's Shang Juncheng in four sets, showcasing his experience with the tournament's unique format.
The tournament features an innovative scoring system and highlights the top eight ATP players aged 20 and under, with round-robin play determining semifinalists.