A year after losing the title clash to Joao Fonseca, Learnen Tien returned to the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah determined to go one step further. The American top seed faced Alexander Blockx in the final and delivered a commanding 4-3, 4-2, 4-1 victory in just 59 minutes to secure the trophy.
Rivalry renewed
Tien and Blockx entered the tournament as the top seeds and met again nearly three years after their Australian Open junior final. This time, Tien earned revenge, wrapping up his strong 2025 campaign with another trophy added to his growing collection.
Match statistics and dominance
The American claimed 16 points more than his Belgian opponent, dominating behind the first serve and keeping the second serve secure to defend both break points. Blockx struggled on his second serve, losing it twice in sets two and three. Tien kept his game compact, producing nine winners and 12 unforced errors, while Blockx finished with 18 winners and 24 errors, struggling to find rhythm from the baseline.
Key moments in the final
The opening set featured just one break point, which Blockx saved in the third game before forcing a tie break. Tien seized control with back-to-back mini breaks, racing to a 5-1 lead and closing the set 7-4. In the second set, Tien broke in the sixth game to move ahead 4-2, edging closer to victory. The third set saw Blockx broken in the fourth game, leaving Tien to serve for the match at 3-1.
Closing out the crown
Serving for the win, Tien faced two break points but held firm. He saved the first and converted the decisive point to seal the match in style. The triumph not only gave him the Next Gen ATP Finals crown but also highlighted his resilience and growth since last year’s disappointment.
Tien’s victory in Jeddah capped off a rock-solid 2025 season, reinforcing his reputation as one of the brightest young talents in tennis.
Learner Tien in 2025
Ranked world no.28 (career-high), the American played his last match on the 21st of December when he defeated world no.116 Alexander Blockx 4-3(4) 4-2 4-1 in the final in the Next Gen ATP Finals to win his 2nd career title.
This year Learner owns an overall 43-26 match record. The American has won 1 title in Metz. Learner got to the final in Beijing.
He is also scheduled to play in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Tennis Open). The main draw will start on the 30th of December.
