Can young gun Engel come of age in Jeddah?
Being the youngest player in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF field has historically been a promising sign. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Joao Fonseca all lifted the trophy as the youngest participants in their respective draws at the event in 2019, 2021 and 2024, and this week, Justin Engel will aim to follow in their footsteps.
The 18-year-old German is the youngest competitor in the eight-man draw, having secured his spot in the tournament after a successful season that included an ATP Challenger Tour title in Hamburg. So, does being the youngest alleviate any pressure? Not for Engel, who, with refreshing confidence, told ATPTour.com on Silver Sands Beach in Jeddah that he doesn’t feel pressure.
“I never have pressure,” Engel said during Monday’s media day. “Of course, I get a little nervous before matches, but that’s normal. If you’re not nervous, you’re not taking your sport seriously. But pressure? No, I don’t feel that.”
Twelve months ago, Fonseca, then 18, was both the lowest-ranked and youngest player in the draw. Yet he powered through his opponents to leave Jeddah with the title, setting the stage for his rapid rise. The Brazilian built on that breakthrough triumph by winning two ATP Tour titles in 2025 and climbing to a career-high No. 24 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Engel is aware of potential comparisons if he were to go deep in Jeddah, especially since he recently became the second-youngest player after Rafael Nadal to win a tour-level match on all three surfaces. However, he remains firmly focused on his own path.
“I don’t really look at what they have done. They won this tournament, but I don’t really think much about it,” Engel said. “I just try to play my best tennis and go on court and have fun, that’s the focus.”
Engel’s love for tennis began at the age of three in Nuremberg, where he grew up idolising Nadal. In 2024, he secured his maiden tour-level win in Almaty, marking a significant milestone in his career. The No. 187 player in the PIF ATP Rankings built on this success with a victory on clay in Hamburg and an impressive quarter-final run at the ATP 250 grass-court event in Stuttgart, showcasing his versatility across surfaces.
“The fans really made a difference for me in Germany, especially in Stuttgart and Hamburg,” Engel said. “Playing in front of them was incredible. Hamburg was my favourite tournament because it’s an ATP 500, and winning against one of my friends, Jan-Lennard Struff, made it even more special. That period was a real boost for me.”
In Saudi Arabia, Engel will hope to bring his best when he meets Alexander Blockx, Dino Prizmic, and Nishesh Basavareddy in the round-robin stage, starting on Wednesday against Blockx.
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