#NextGenATP stars relax before battle in Jeddah | ATP Tour

Next Gen ATP Finals

#NextGenATP stars relax before battle in Jeddah

The biggest tournament for under 20s starts on Wednesday

December 16, 2024

The eight best juniors in the world met on Monday on the Red Sea coast, more precisely in Jeddah on the eve of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which will be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the second consecutive year.

Posing for the official group photo on a court made up of 37 traditional rugs and in front of a tennis net made of woven palm leaves, the setting was chosen to represent Jeddah’s reputation for diversity and uniting people and cultures.

The players began with a round of media interviews inside the Royal Overlook Building, where they could imagine jaw-dropping views for the Saudi Formula 1 Grand Prix on the Jeddah Corniche, scheduled for April. Frenchman Luca Van Assche, returning to the tournament for the second year in a row, captured the track with his cell phone.

The players then climbed the stairs to the terrace overlooking the Red Sea for the official group photo. Later, as the sun was setting, the players gathered on a yacht to sail the Red Sea.

“It’s good to be here, it’s a great place,” said Czech Jakub Mensik, No. 48 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who has recorded four Top 10 wins this season.

“It feels amazing to be here. They’ve had this tournament since 2017, so it feels really good to be the first Brazilian,” said Joao Fonseca, who defeated Jeddah’s top seed Arthur Fils earlier this season at the Rio Open presented by Claro.

“It means I’m part of the Next Gen, and it tells me I’m on the right path, so it’s really good.”

The group stage begins on Wednesday at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, before Saturday’s semi-finals and Sunday’s final begin.

Last year’s finalist Fils heads the Blue Group, which also includes Mensik, American Learner Tien and Fonseca.

Second-ranked American Alex Michelsen, returning for the second time, heads the Red Group, which also includes China’s Shang Juncheng, France’s Van Assche and former American college player Nishesh Basavareddy.