The Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is set to witness an electrifying final on Sunday as 19-year-old American Learner Tien takes on 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca for the prestigious title. This highly anticipated match-up features the two youngest players in the tournament, both showcasing remarkable talent and determination.
Learner Tien advanced to the final after a hard-fought victory over his compatriot Alex Michelsen. Tien, ranked 122nd in the world, won in a thrilling five-set match, 2-4, 4-2, 1-4, 4-0, 4-1. Despite the mixed emotions of defeating a close friend, Tien expressed his happiness and determination to win the title.
On the other side, Joao Fonseca has been nothing short of impressive throughout the tournament. The lowest-ranked player in the draw at 145, Fonseca has remained undefeated, including a dominant performance against France’s Luca Van Assche in the semifinals, winning 4-2, 4-2, 4-1. Fonseca’s aggressive play and solid performance have earned him a spot in the final, making him the second youngest player to reach this stage after Jannik Sinner in 2019.
The championship match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both players bringing their A-game. Tien, who has already defeated the top three seeds in the tournament, will be looking for redemption after losing to Fonseca in the group stages. Fonseca, on the other hand, will aim to continue his undefeated run and secure the title.
The match will be played in the best-of-five sets format, with a tiebreaker if a set goes to 3-3. Fans can expect a display of powerful shots, strategic gameplay, and youthful energy from both competitors.
Winning the Next Gen ATP Finals title is not just about the trophy; it’s about proving oneself as a future star in tennis. For Tien, it would be a chance to become the second American to win the title, following Brandon Nakashima in 2022. For Fonseca, it would be a remarkable achievement to win as the lowest-ranked finalist in tournament history.
Tien in the Next Gen ATP Finals, ranking, and results in 2024
WWLWLLWWWW Now ranked no.122, the American achieved a composed 63-13 record in 2024. Learner ended his run in the round-robin after defeating Alex Michelsen 2-4 4-2 1-4 4-0 4-1.
Learner Tien will square off with the world no.145 Joao Fonseca in the final. The head to head is 1-0 for Fonseca.
Learner has won 7 titles in 2024 San Diego, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, the Bloomfield Hills Challenger, Lakewood, the Las Vegas Challenger and the Fairfield Challenger. The American was the runner-up in the Knoxville Challenger.
He is also scheduled to play in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Tennis Open) on the 30th of December and Hong Kong (Hong Kong Tennis Open) on the 1st of January.
Fonseca in the Next Gen ATP Finals, ranking, and results in 2024
WWWWLWWWLW Ranked no.145, Joao has achieved a composed 36-23 match record in 2024. Joao ended his run in the round-robin after defeating Luca Van Assche 4-2 4-2 4-1.
Joao Fonseca will square off with the world no.122 Learner Tien in the final. Their actual head to head record is 1-0 for Fonseca.
Fonseca conquered 1 title in 2024 in the Lexington Challenger. Fonseca reached the final in the Asuncion Challenger.
Learner Tien and Joao Fonseca faced off just once. Their actual head to head record is 1-0 for Fonseca. When they played, Joao Fonseca won 4-0 4-0 1-4 4-2 in the round robin in Jeddah (Next Gen ATP Finals) on the 19th of December 2024.
