Tennis News

Budkov Kjaer, Landaluce & old scores to settle in Jeddah

The stars competing at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF may have had a fun time taking in a spot of jet skiing at Silver Sands Beach in Jeddah on Monday afternoon, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting straight down to business and eyeing their group-stage opponents.

Behind the smiles and wisecracks, the message is clear: Friendships pause the moment the first ball is struck.

Debutant Nicolai Budkov Kjaer arrives in Jeddah having claimed a Tour-leading four ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2025, yet his opening match on Wednesday brings a familiar obstacle: Martin Landaluce, who has beaten the Norwegian in all three of their meetings this season. Add to that the lingering memory of last year’s US Open boys’ final — where Budkov Kjaer fell to Rafael Jodar, who is also in the Blue Group.

“Especially Martin and Rafa here,” 19-year-old Budkov Kjaer said of his biggest rivals in Jeddah. “We’re the same age and they’ve always had the edge and I’ve never had the chance to beat them. It’s always been tight, but they have had the edge…

“Maybe because the Spanish develop faster than us up in the north [of Europe]. They were some of my rivals when I was young, so it’s fun to see them here.”

<img alt=”Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/15/19/58/jeddah-2025-media-day-selfie.jpg” />_{^{Media Day at Silver Sands Beach in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.}}

Landaluce, for his part, sees opportunity rather than comfort in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. With pre-season changes made and the Next Gen ATP Finals spotlight shining brighter, the Spaniard knows past results offer no guarantees.

“I’ve beaten him three times this year, but I think in our match he will change some things,” Landaluce said. “After the pre-season, he has changed many things, so we’ll see what happens.”

Landaluce’s task doesn’t stop there. He is chasing top seed and last year’s finalist Learner Tien, who is the final member of the Blue Group.

“Learner is the first one [on my mind], but everyone is a good player,” Landaluce said with a smile. “I’ve played with some of them and they were very tough matches. So hopefully I’ll play many matches here and see which one is the toughest.”

In the Red Group, history also runs deep. Alexander Blockx and Dino Prizmic have been crossing paths since they were 11, a rivalry forged in juniors and sharpened by Grand Slam glory in 2023 — Blockx lifting the Australian Open boys’ trophy, Prizmic following with the title at Roland Garros.

Now, they make their Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF debuts together in Jeddah.

“I would say my biggest rival is Dino,” Blockx said. “We’ve played each other six times, and I think he’s won four. Every year we’ve been close to each other. He has been injured a lot in the past couple of years, but even with those injuries, he’s playing at an unbelievable level.

“I would say he’s one of the most consistent guys on the Tour, so I think I would see him as my biggest rival.”

<img alt=”Alexander Blockx, Nishesh Basavareddy” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/15/19/46/blockx-basavareddy-jeddah-2025-media-day.jpg” />_{^{Alexander Blockx will make his Jeddah debut while Nishesh Basavareddy returns. Photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.}}

Prizmic responds with respect — and realism. In a field this deep, he believes every match carries equal danger, even if Blockx’s words linger.

“I think every player is my biggest rival here,” said Prizmic, who won two ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2025. “But if Alex said me, maybe I will say [him] because we are in the same group. He has very good movement on the court, a very good forehand and very good serve. He’s also so close to the baseline and it’s very hard to play against him.”

With shorter sets to four games, no-Ad scoring and slim margins for error, the innovative Next Gen ATP Finals format could punish slow starts. Tien, one of only two returning players in the field, knows this all too well.

“No one really has that much experience playing this format, so it can be a toss up,” Tien said. “I think it makes it a little bit more exciting because slow starts can kind of take you out of matches pretty quick, so I think it’s exciting. I think it’s fun to watch and it’s fun to play and I’m looking forward to it.”

<img alt=”Learner Tien” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/15/19/48/tien-jeddah-2025-media-day.jpg” />_{^{Learner Tien is the top seed and defending finalist. Photo: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.}}

While some arrive with specific names circled, Jodar takes a broader view. With eight players capable of winning on any given day, the 19-year-old’s focus is less on rivals and more on readiness.

“I don’t have any big rivals… I just know that we are eight good players, and we all have a very high level, so it will be a fun tournament to follow,” said Jodar, who rose over 700 spots in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2025. “I wish all the players the best luck because it’s a great tournament against those top guys.

“At the end of the day, everyone is good, so you have to step on the court and try to do the things that you know — that’s what I’m trying to do.”

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Hot Shot of the Year: Fans hail a point that defines Alcaraz…

If one point captures the essence of Carlos Alcaraz, it is the electrifying Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters moment that earned him Hot Shot of the Year.

Voted by fans on ATPTour.com as the most exciting of the season, Alcaraz’s Hot Shot of the Year edged efforts from Grigor Dimitrov and Hubert Hurkacz, who also endeared themselves to fans with stunning from-the-floor winners. Meanwhile, Alcaraz dazzled with instinct and imagination.

Showcasing his signature blend of speed, power and flair all in a single point, the Spaniard raced down a drop shot, carved a sharp angle and then upon a dead sprint, launched a running tweener lob in just the second game of his match against Daniel Altmaier. Alcaraz put his finger to his ear, asking the Monte-Carlo to get involved in the early stages of the third-round match.

Alcaraz went on to claim the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title, his first triumph in the Principality and one of eight trophies he lifted in 2025. He finished the season as ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF, tallying a 71-9 match record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

The 22-year-old was a regular in this year’s ATP Awards. Alcaraz was honoured with the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the second time. His coaches Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samuel Lopez won Coach of the Year.

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More Than The Score

Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios talk ahead of their controversial match

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Dominant Sabalenka wins back-to-back WTA awards

World number one Aryna Sabalenka is voted the WTA player of the year for the second successive season after winning four titles in 2025.

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#NextGenATP stars enjoy beach retreat before Jeddah battle begins

Rivals on the court but, increasingly, friends off it.

The eight players in Jeddah for the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF gathered at the spectacular Silver Sands Beach Monday for the official group photo, water activities, including jet skiing, and a barbecue, just two days before group play begins.

“Jeddah is a reward for the hard work this year, so it’s definitely fun to wrap it up here with some good friends and to play with these guys,” said Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, who won four ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2025.

Martin Landaluce enjoyed the sun and surf with close friend and fellow Spaniard Rafael Jodar, saying: “It’s fun because we’ve known each other since we were nine years old, and now we are back together in Jeddah. We’re gonna play in the same group so I’ll try to enjoy this match.”

The world’s best 20-and-under players also took part in extensive media day opportunities with Saudi and international media.

Silver Sands is an exclusive seaside escape known for its clear waters, pristine sands and relaxed elegance — perfect for hosting premium experiences by the Red Sea.

The eight players for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF are split into two groups of four for round-robin play Wednesday through Friday at the King Abdullah Sports City, with the knockout semi-finals played Saturday and the final Sunday.

Previous winners of the event include Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

See Day 1 schedule

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Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF Draw Is Out!

The draw for the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF is out.

Top seed and last year’s finalist Learner Tien leads Blue Group, which features both Spanish players in the eight-man field – Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar plus Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.

Belgian Alexander Blockx heads Red Group, which also features Croatian Dino Prizmic, returning American Nishesh Basavareddy and 18-year-old German Justin Engel, the youngest player in the field.

Group stage play will be held Wednesday through Friday, with the semi-finals Saturday and final Sunday.

See the Day 1 Schedule

Blue Group

Tien, 20, enjoyed a breakthrough first season on the ATP Tour with 32 tour-level wins. A finalist in Jeddah last December, the American showcased his level to the world in 2025. He won his first ATP Tour title in Metz and reached the final at the ATP 500 event in Beijing. Tien also advanced to the fourth round at the Australian Open and enjoyed a run to the last 16 at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai.

The lefty recorded five Top 10 wins in 2025 and is at a career-high No. 28 in the PIF ATP Rankings, having started the season outside the Top 120.

Landaluce will hope to follow in the footsteps of former champion Carlos Alcaraz when he makes his debut. The Spaniard advanced to the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati and lifted the trophy at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Orleans, France.

Budkov Kjaer won his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title in Glasgow in February and returned to the winner’s circle in July with back-to-back triumphs in Tampere and Astana, becoming the youngest Norwegian to claim multiple Challenger trophies. He then captured his fourth title of the season at that level at the Open de Vendee in France.

Jodar, who currently plays for the University of Virginia, will make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF after a late-season surge. The Spaniard won three ATP Challenger Tour titles in the final three months of the season and will now join countryman Martin Landaluce at the 20-and-under event. Last year, the 19-year-old was a sparring partner in Jeddah.

Red Group

Blockx will compete in Jeddah for the first time following another year of progress on the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour. The Belgian won Challenger crowns in Oeiras in January and in Bratislava in November. The 20-year-old also qualified for the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami and earned his first tour-level victory in Cincinnati, where he defeated Marcos Giron.

Prizmic won two ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2025, in Zagreb and Bratislava, respectively, enjoying a 14-match winning streak. The Croatian enjoyed a breakthrough run on home soil at the ATP 250 in Umag, where he advanced to his maiden tour-level quarter-final.

Basavareddy, the 20-year-old Californian, will compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second consecutive year. He reached the semi-finals in Auckland at the start of the season and earned tour-level match wins in Cincinnati, Winston-Salem and Hangzhou. He is here with Gilles Cervara, former coach of Daniil Medvedev.

Engel impressed on home soil in 2025. He beat countryman Jan-Lennard Struff at the ATP 500 in Hamburg and advanced to the quarter-finals in Stuttgart. The German became the second-youngest player since 1990 to win a tour-level match (excluding Davis Cup) on all three surfaces: hard, clay and grass. Only Rafael Nadal accomplished the feat at a younger age, doing so at 17 years, two months.

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Basavareddy welcomes Cervara to team as players ready for Jeddah start

Three days and counting.

With the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF set to begin Wednesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, American Nishesh Basavareddy was among the 20-and-under emerging stars who got a taste for conditions at the King Abdullah Sports City Sunday.

The Newport Beach, California, native is back for the eight-player tournament for the second year, but with coach Gilles Cervara in his box for the first time. The 20-year-old asked the Frenchman, the former longtime coach of Daniil Medvedev, to join his team at the beginning of December.

“Obviously he had a long and successful partnership with Daniil, who was a good player before they started working together, but they did a lot of great things together,” Basavareddy told ATPTour.com.

“I thought that experience at the highest level could help me where I’m at in my career. It’s not just the tennis; he’s interested in all aspects. He’s diligent and professional in areas such as nutrition and fitness and that will help me.”

Croatian Dino Prizmic, a two-time ATP Challenger Tour title winner this year, practised with Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, who qualified for Jeddah after winning three Challengers in the final three months of the season. Both players are making their tournament debuts.

Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, who stands 6’4”, hit a series of crushing forehands during his session with Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, a four-time Challenger Tour champion this season.

German 18-year-old Justin Engel practised with countryman and former Top 100 player Michael Kohlmann.

The draw and Day 1 schedule will be made later on Sunday.

All eight players compete on the three days of group play Wednesday through Friday, with the semi-finals Saturday and the final Sunday.

Past winners of the tournament include Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

View the playing field

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Alcaraz on top: A surface-by-surface look at 2025's best

To mark the end of another thrilling season, ATPTour.com is unveiling our annual ‘Best Of’ series, which will reflect on the most intriguing rivalries, matches, comebacks, upsets and more. Today we review the best players on each of the surfaces in 2025.

Carlos Alcaraz wrapped up 2025 as the season’s defining force across surfaces, powering his return to ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours for the first time since 2022.

The 22-year-old Spaniard led the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index on two of the three surfaces, reaffirming his all-court mastery in a season that showcased both dominance and drama. Alcaraz tallied a stunning 22-1 record on clay — including an unforgettable championship-match win over rival Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros — and owns the best winning percentage on the surface in 2025.

Clay Court Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index (2025)

Behind Alcaraz, Sinner’s own consistency helped him reach finals in Rome and Roland Garros, despite falling short of a clay trophy. Lorenzo Musetti posted his most complete season yet on the surface, while Alexander Bublik’s surge translated to high-altitude titles in Gstaad and Kitzbuehel after a quarter-final breakthrough at the clay-court major in Paris.

Jack Draper, who had just nine tour-level wins on clay prior to 2025, made considerable strides on the surface. Though he didn’t claim a title, the Briton reached the final at the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid and the quarter-finals in Rome.

Alcaraz carried his momentum from Roland Garros onto the grass courts in style. He extended his career-best winning streak to 24 matches with a second Queen’s Club title before charging into his third straight Wimbledon final. Despite defeat to Sinner, Alcaraz still finished with a higher grass-court winning percentage than the Italian.

Grass Court Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index (2025)

Taylor Fritz delivered a Tour-leading 13 wins on grass thanks to titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne before reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals. Bublik added a second Halle crown after ousting Sinner in the second round of the ATP 500 event, while Novak Djokovic reached a record 14th semi-final at Wimbledon.

After a near-flawless hard-court campaign in 2024, Sinner elevated again in 2025. Five of his six titles came on the surface, highlighted by a successful Australian Open title defence and another Tour-leading winning percentage.

One of the stories of the season came in Shanghai, where World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot stunned the field — including record four-time champion Djokovic — to become the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion. He also reached the quarter-finals in Paris to finish with the second-highest hard-court winning percentage.

Hard Court Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index (2025)

Alcaraz remained a constant threat, adding four hard-court trophies of his own, including the US Open, with which he reclaimed the World No. 1 spot from Sinner. Draper won his first ATP Masters 1000 crown in Indian Wells and Djokovic added his 101st career title with a late-season triumph in Athens.

For the second straight year, Siner was untouchable indoors. He delivered a spotless 15-0 record with consecutive titles in Vienna, Paris, and at the Nitto ATP Finals, extending his overall indoor winning streak to 31 matches.

Ugo Humbert and Casper Ruud each collected an indoor trophy, while Felix Auger-Aliassime continued to thrive under a roof with two titles in Montpellier and Brussels. Alcaraz added his first indoor title in Rotterdam and reached the championship match in Turin.

Indoor Hard Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index (2025) 

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Jannik Sinner Foundation launch among 2025 ATP Tour charity highlights

Across the ATP Tour, players have enhanced their professional legacies in 2025 by pairing competitive achievements with off-court contributions to charity.

Jannik Sinner, No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, launched the Jannik Sinner Foundation in April. The Italian is dedicated to empowering children through education and sports. “The idea behind [this] is very simple: I want to give back,” Sinner said in a video announcement. “Kids are our future and everything we do in the foundation is rooted to help them. We are focussing on two main areas: sports development and childhood education.”

Sinner’s fellow ATP Tour star Andrey Rublev is also involved in charity work. The Andrey Rublev Foundation partnered with Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome, one of the leading paediatric hospitals in the world, to support medical care for underprivileged children.

Rublev visited the hospital ahead of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in May and spent time with members of the medical staff and the patients who are undergoing treatment. The 17-time tour-level titlist also provided presents to the children.

<img alt=”Andrey Rublev at the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/06/11/19/46/rublev-rome-2025-hospital-visit.jpg” />
_{^{Andrey Rublev at the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital. Credit: Andrey Rublev Foundation}}

Holger Rune continued his involvement with Danish organisation Børns vilkår, which models as a helpline for children in need. Alongside monetary donations, Rune auctioned a match-used racquet and a private lesson, he revealed in an Instagram post in April.

The Novak Djokovic Foundation and Lacoste partnered to inaugurate the ‘Novak Djokovic tennis court’ in Belgrade, the hometown of the 101-time tour-level titlist. Located in the heart of Djokovic’s native city, the court features a one-of-a-kind design that pays tribute to his career and offers young people the opportunity to discover tennis while also taking part in educational, cultural and creative activities.

The tennis community in Acapulco, Mexico, including the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, rallied in rebuilding efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Otis in October 2023. Mextenis, the organisers of the ATP 500, are supporting partners of the Mexican non-profit organisation Construyendo, which at the time of this year’s tournament had delivered 73 newly built homes to families affected.

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Nadal announces hand surgery, shows great sense of humour

Rafael Nadal announced Friday that he recently underwent hand surgery.

The retired legend’s good sense of humour was on full display when he joked that he won’t be able to play the Australian Open next month.

“Looks like I won’t be able to play the @AustralianOpen 2026 😂,” Nadal wrote. “I had to undergo hand surgery because of an issue I’d been dealing with for a long time, but I hope to be fine soon 🤗”

Me parece que no podré jugar el @australianopen en enero 😂

He tenido que someterme a una intervención en la mano por un problema que venía arrastrando desde hace mucho tiempo, ¡pero espero estar bien pronto! 🤗

Looks like I won’t be able to play the @AustralianOpen 2026 😂

I… pic.twitter.com/XIizIdOtOl

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) December 12, 2025

The Spaniard, who retired last year, will not be far from the tennis court despite his surgery. Nadal will return to Jeddah for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which takes place from 17-21 December.

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