Norrie battles past Rublev to progress in Austria
Britain’s Cameron Norrie overcomes seventh seed Andrey Rublev in three sets to reach the second round of the Erste Bank Open.
Britain’s Cameron Norrie overcomes seventh seed Andrey Rublev in three sets to reach the second round of the Erste Bank Open.
Long before they were chasing a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah, they were just kids, hitting balls, looking up to their idols and dreaming of one day making it on Tour.
In the first feature of our Next Gen ATP series Next in Line, we go back to the beginning with Rei Sakamoto, Federico Cina and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, three of the top 20-and-under players in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. From family court sessions to Centre Court inspiration, their roads to pro tennis began in very personal ways.
For Japan’s Sakamoto, one of the most vivid early moments wasn’t a lesson or a win, it was a feeling.
“I was six years old, playing on small courts,” Sakamoto told ATPTour.com in New York. “I think I hit a smash and it flew off. It was so satisfying.”
Sakamoto laughed at the memory, especially considering there’s an even earlier photo of him swinging a racquet at age three, a moment he doesn’t remember, but one his family certainly does.
“There’s a photo of me hitting tennis balls with a kid’s racquet,” Sakamoto added. “I absolutely have no memory, but I guess I started early!”
In Italy, Cina was picking up racquets around the same age, but in his case, the tennis bug ran deep in the family.
“I started with my grandpa and grandma, at home,” Cina said. “So the first time was with them, also with my dad, he’s a coach, so at the tournaments, I always played with him. But the club I first played at was near my home, about 10 minutes away. I played at home in the first years and then when I was around five or six, I started going to the club and stayed there all day.”
By the time Cina was six, he spent entire days at his local courts and even travelled to events alongside his dad, who coached US Open finalist Roberta Vinci.
“I remember watching a lot and going to tournaments because my dad was a coach,” said Cina, who is now coached by his father Francesco. “I would go to the Slams and Masters 1000 events as a kid. They were really nice places and I enjoyed watching at that time. I watched a lot of matches, so I think I developed an interest in tennis from there. I watched a lot when my dad was coaching Vinci, some cool experiences. He was very important in my development because I started because of him and he passed that passion onto me and I am very thankful.”
Budkov Kjaer’s connection to the sport also came through family, though with a distinctly Norwegian twist.
“My dad was in the Federation for five years, so it was more natural for me to choose tennis,” said Budkov Kjaer. “He was in the Federation when Casper [Ruud] was growing up as a junior and establishing on the ATP Tour. So he knew all the transitions and all the things that had to be done.”
Even as kids with access to courts and coaches, there were specific moments that lit a fire, the kind that came from seeing the game played at its highest level.
“I remember watching Kei Nishikori in the US Open final. Cilic destroyed him,” Sakamoto said. “But just watching him playing, going so deep in the tournament was awesome to watch. He inspired me a lot. That gave me the confidence that Japanese can be good tennis players, great tennis players. That’s the match.”
Budkov Kjaer has won four ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2025 and is sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, aiming to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in December. The 19-year-old recalls having a lightbulb moment when sitting in the stands of Centre Court.
“I attended the Wimbledon final in 2018 with Djokovic and Anderson and off course I wanted to come back in all white and play on Wimbledon’s beautiful courts,” said Budkov Kjaer, who won the Boys’ singles title at the major in 2024. “For me, the all white, green grass courts and maybe the time of year makes Wimbledon extra special.”
The next class of players is arriving‼️
Who will qualify for the 2025 #NextGenATPFinals? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/CImerpCyEF
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) September 26, 2025
As the trio continues to rise, they each took a moment to reflect on how far they’ve come and what their younger selves might think of their progress.
“My young junior me would probably give me a high five and say, “Not bad!” Back then, I had no idea what it really takes, which was maybe a blessing,” Budkov Kjaer said. “But if you told junior-me I’d be ranked ATP 136, winning 50 matches and four Challenger titles in my first year as a pro, I think he’d be smiling pretty wide.”
Cina agreed. His younger self might not recognise the level yet, but he’d feel right at home.
“I’m grateful I had the chance to play at Masters 1000s this year,” said Cina, who won first-round matches at the level in Miami and Madrid in 2025. “Madrid felt more comfortable than Miami. I’m adjusting, feeling more at home every time.”
Sakamoto has enjoyed success on the Challenger Tour this season, triumphing in Cary. On Tour, the 19-year-old came through qualifying to compete at Masters 1000 events in Miami and Shanghai. For Sakamoto, the measuring stick is still Nishikori and that remains a powerful motivator.
“When I compare myself to Kei at my age, I feel like he’s in a different world,” Sakamoto said. “He won his first ATP title just after turning 18. I’ve won a Challenger, but every time I feel closer, I also feel farther. Still… I’m happy with my steps.”
Learn more about Sakamoto here
Learn more about Budkov Kjaer here
Learn more about Cina here
On 28 October 2025, we will hear how Learner Tien, Nishesh Basavareddy and Justin Engel have adjusted to the Tour.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Teenage tennis star Mimi Xu says her driving test was far more stressful than playing Emma Raducanu on her Wimbledon debut.
John Beddington, the longtime tennis administrator who was one of the first tournament directors of the event that is now called the Nitto ATP Finals, passed away last week aged 83.
For more than five decades, Beddington was a key figure in the sport who shaped many, including the best players in the world and children in need. From laying the groundwork for some of the sport’s biggest events to giving back to the community, he has left tennis far greater than he found it.
Beddington was tournament director of the Commercial Union Grand Prix Masters from 1972 through 1976, and later played a critical role in Barclays becoming the title sponsor of the tournament when it moved to The O2 in London.
Three years later, Beddington became Executive Vice President of Tennis Canada and remained with the organisation until 1995. He was tournament director for what is now the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.
In that capacity, Beddington not only built one of the best tournaments in the world — it is now an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event — but left a positive impression on the biggest stars in the sport.
Ivan Lendl, a former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, won the Canadian event six times between 1980 and 1989.
“I got to know John through the Canadian Open. We stayed in touch over the years,” Lendl said. “John was a great guy, I always enjoyed seeing him at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. John did a fantastic job in Toronto and Montreal. I appreciated his wicked sense of humor and was very sad to hear about John’s passing.”
Valerie Tetreault, Vice President of Communications, Professional Events and Tournament Director of the National Bank Open in Montreal, said that everyone associated with Tennis Canada and Canadian tennis mourns Beddington’s passing.
“The word trailblazer is sometimes used too often, but in John’s case it is absolutely fitting. He dedicated his life to the growth of our sport both in Canada and on a global level,” Tetreault. “His influence on our flagship WTA and ATP 1000 tournaments, the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Toronto and Montreal, cannot be understated and their growth into the prestigious, world-renowned events they are today is in large part down to him.
“His legacy in Canadian tennis is enormous, and he will be remembered for the incredible footprint he leaves behind on our sport.”
Two years ago, Beddington was honoured at Wimbledon by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation with the Golden Achievement Award.
“I have been fortunate to have had a very long career in tennis and was lucky to be around when tennis went open in 1968,” Beddington said at the time. “I’m thankful for the tremendous mentors, colleagues, and great friends I’ve made around the world in the sport over the years. It has been rewarding to see the sport thrive globally and I’m happy to have been able to play a role in tennis’ global development.”
Beddington also was a co-founder of the longtime ATP Champions Tour event held at Royal Albert Hall in London and helped launch countless other tournaments.
Throughout his time in the sport, Beddington raised close to £2 million for charity, supporting several causes and organisations, including Give It Your Max, for which he was patron. The goal was to try to keep kids off the street and instead introduce them to sport.
Give It Your Max posted on Instagram: “John’s kindness, vision, and enthusiasm will be deeply missed, but his impact on the tennis world – and on the lives he helped to change through our programmes – will continue to be felt for many years to come.”
Beddington is survived by his wife, Roseann Madden Beddington, and his sons, David Paul Madden Beddington and James Edward Beddington.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]Day 1 of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna saw third seed Alex de Minaur and Alexander Bublik advance to the second round on Monday. Tallon Griekspoor stunned fifth seed Karen Khachanov.
View all results from Monday below.
Read more from Vienna:
De Minaur notches 300th career win in fast Vienna start
Sinner says he will convince ‘second father’ Cahill to stay in his corner
Budkov Kjaer, Sinner’s practice partner, ready to unleash the ‘hammer’ in Vienna
Results – Monday, 20 October 2025
Men’s Singles – Round of 32
Brandon Nakashima (USA) d Luciano Darderi (ITA) 62 75
[8] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) d Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) 64 64
[3] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d [WC] Jurij Rodionov (AUT) 64 61
Tallon Griekspoor (NED) d [5] Karen Khachanov 63 57 64
[Q] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) d [Q] Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) 75 64
Day 1 of the Swiss Indoors Basel, an ATP 500 event in Basel, Switzerland, saw #NextGenATP star Jakub Mensik and eighth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina win their first-round matches on Monday.
View all results from Monday below.
Read more from Basel:
Mensik ousts fellow #NextGenATP talent Bernet in Basel debut
Fritz to face Shanghai champ Vacherot in Basel draw blockbuster
Results – Monday, 20 October 2025
Men’s Singles – Round of 32
Jenson Brooksby (USA) d Alexandre Muller (FRA) 64 63
[8] Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) d Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 76(2) 64
[7] Jakub Mensik (CZE) d [WC] Henry Bernet (SUI) 76(1) 67(7) 63
Jaume Munar (ESP) d [Q] Remy Bertola (SUI) 62 64
PIF ATP Live Race To Turin: Towards Turin Hub
Alcaraz: Back in pole position in quest for Turin glory
Jakub Mensik delivered a dose of drama on Monday at the Swiss Indoors Basel, where he overcame fearless home wild card Henry Bernet 35 minutes after missing his first match point.
The seventh seed carved out a 7-6(1), 6-7(7), 6-3 victory over the 18-year-old Bernet, the Basel native who was making his ATP Tour debut. After letting slip a match point in the second-set tie-break, Mensik used his experience to regroup and ultimately drowned out the crowd with a clutch serving display to earn his first win at the indoor hard-court ATP 500 event
“It was a really, really tough night. I’ve been in his [position] two years ago, and I know how it feels to be hungry and fight for every point, and I felt it from him today,” Mensik said after his first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Bernet. “He has such a huge game, a very aggressive style. One of his great things is his mental strength.”
Bernet, who won this year’s Australian Open boys’ title, was aiming to become the youngest Swiss match winner in Basel since his idol and record 10-time champion Roger Federer — then 18 years old — in 1999. He outhit Mensik 27 winners to 23 over the first two sets, but struggled to cope with the Czech star once found his range.
Mensik won 94 per cent (15/16) of first-serve points and hit nine of his total 18 aces in the deciding set, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The No. 19 player in the PIF ATP Rankings awaits the winner of Tuesday’s popcorn match between defending champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and #NextGenATP star Joao Fonseca.
In other action on Day 1 in Basel, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina notched his 25th hard-court win of the season by ousting Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(2), 6-4. The eighth-seeded Spaniard, who reached the final in Acapulco and Washington, now owns the seventh-most wins on the surface in 2025.
Davidovich Fokina will next face Jenson Brooksby, who needed just 67 minutes to move past Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-3. Earlier, Jaume Munar eased past Swiss qualifier Remy Bertola 6-2, 6-4 and awaits a second-round meeting with last year’s finalist Ben Shelton or Kamil Majchrzak.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]A two-time semi-finalist at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, Luca Van Assche returned to the ATP Challenger Tour winner’s circle on Sunday with a marathon victory against former World No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta.
The 21-year-old, who reached the last four in Jeddah the past two years, won the Olbia Challenger in Italy to lift his first trophy at that level since March 2023. Van Assche outlasted Carreno Busta 7-6(5), 6-7(1), 6-2 in a three-hour, 14-minute battle, which marked the Spaniard’s second Challenger-final loss in 16 appearances.
“It was an incredible match against Pablo. He’s an unbelievable fighter,” said Van Assche, a four-time Challenger champion. “It was very hard until the end. I’m very happy to win today. It was a big achievement for me. A lot of ups and downs since my last Challenger title, so I’m very happy to win here in Olbia. It has been a long road since two years ago.”
Spanish teen Jodar boosts Jeddah chances
#NextGenATP Spaniard Rafael Jodar improved his position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah following his title run at the Lincoln Challenger. The 19-year-old rallied past American Martin Damm 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 in the final to claim his second Challenger title in the past three months.
“It feels great, I’m super happy with how the week went,” Jodar said. “I was feeling very good during all the matches. I handled the important moments very well. I know it’s always complicated to win a Challenger because you have to win five matches, you have to have a little bit of luck, you have to play your best during the whole week. It’s difficult. I’m very happy because it means the work I’m doing during the season is paying off.”
Jodar is up nine places to ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, strengthening his chances for his maiden trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.
Trophy time for Rafa Jodar 😎#ATPChallenger | @RFETenis pic.twitter.com/cvODPSHx8H
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) October 19, 2025
Last season’s US Open boys’ singles champion, Jodar is a sophomore at the University of Virginia. He is managing five classes this semester while competing in college and professional tournaments.
Vallejo caps dominant week in Brazil
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo dropped just one set all week to win the Copa Internacional de Tenis in Curitiba, Brazil. The 21-year-old Paraguayan, now a two-time Challenger champion, ousted Brazil’s Pedro Boscardin Dias 6-3, 7-5 in the clay-court final.
<img alt=”Adolfo Daniel Vallejo celebrates winning the Curitiba Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/20/14/25/vallejo-curitibach-2025.jpg” />
Adolfo Daniel Vallejo celebrates winning the Curitiba Challenger. Credit: João Pires/sup>
“I competed really well the whole week,” Vallejo said. “I got a few really good wins, especially in the first round, I beat Emilio Nava, who is in the Top 100. I also beat [Tomas] Barrios Vera, who won the title last week in Cali. In the semi-finals and final, I was playing against local players. I’m very happy with the week and the way I competed.”
Jacquet claims third title of 2025
Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet won his third Challenger trophy of the year at the Shenzhen Tennis Open. The 24-year-old downed home hope Zhou Yi 6-3, 6-3 in the final. In February, Jacquet captured back-to-back titles in India, triumphing at the Chennai and New Delhi Challengers. He is No. 151 in the PIF ATP Rankings, nine spots shy of tying his career high.
<img alt=”Kyrian Jacquet wins the Shenzhen Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/20/14/14/jacquet-shenzhench-2025.jpg” />
Kyrian Jacquet wins the Shenzhen Challenger. Credit: Shenzhen Tennis Open
Wendelken wins first Challenger trophy
Briton Harry Wendelken earned his maiden Challenger title at the Hersonissos Challenger 6 in Greece, where the 23-year-old made the best use of a lucky loser spot. Wendelken, who played seven matches in eight days, beat Czech Maxim Mrva 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Following his triumph, Wendelken rose 105 places to a career-high No. 341 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Mrva, 18, was in the draw through the Next Gen Accelerator.