ATP Next Gen Finals aka Jeddah

[jimlosaltos]

This year's Next Gen Finals are Dec 18-22 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It's hard for me to believe they still don't have all 8 slots set, at this late date.
Brazilian 18 yo Jo?o Fonseca, has a slight lead for the final spot over Martin Landaluce.

Several of these players are new to me, two of the recent qualifiers are Americans: Learner Tien, and Nishesh Basavareddy.
Frenchman Fils was a finalist last year. Player profiles are at this link.

So far we have:

Arthur Fils
Alex Michelsen
Jakub Mensik
Shang Juncheng
Learner Tien
Luca Van Assche
Nishesh Basavareddy
8. ?????

[jimlosaltos]

Jo?o Fonseca gets the final spot.

Jo?o will be one of the most interesting players to me. He's only 18 yo, but early this year, as a 17 yo, he beat Arthur Fils, last year's inflict in Jeddah, at the Rio Open.

I believe last year's winner, Serbian Hamad Međedović, as "aged out" at 21.

Here's a profile of Fonseca.

[jimlosaltos]

The ponderously-named Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. starts this Wednesday, featuring the world's top eight 20-and-under singles players in round robin competition, with single elimination semis. There is $2,050,000 in prize money and 15 matches. It will be shown in the US on Tennis Channel, and streamed on TennisTV.

The schedule and scores will be found at this link.

This can be a fun event in several ways. First, I like seeing new players. This year, I'm most interested in seeing 18 yo Joao Fonseca, the youngest and last to qualify. You might recall discussing here early in the year on how Fonseca upset Arthur Fils in Rio. Joao didn't just beat Fils, per Wiki "Excluding the Davis Cup, he became the first South American to claim an opening set 6-0 against a top 50 ranked opponent before turning 18, since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973." Joao's got game. I also like Juncheng "Jerry" Shang, who has infectious enthusiasm, and have never seen another American Nishesh Basavareddy. Fils was a finalist last year, and is top seed after Hamad Medjedovic aged out.

Seeding

1. Arthur Files
2. Arthur Michelsen
3. Jakub Mensik
4. Juncheng Shang
5. Learner Tien
6. Luca Van Assche
7. Nishesh Basavareddy
8. Joao Fonseca

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https://photos.app.goo.gl/UhFyfrUmhKH1En4j9

[jimlosaltos]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UhFyfrUmhKH1En4j9

Fils atop Blue, Alex atop Red

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filedata/fetch?id=106160&d=1734371505&type=thumb

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https://open.substack.com/pub/hughclarke/p/2024-wrap?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1t7zzc

[jimlosaltos]

Well, that didn't take long to happen!

American Learner Tien upset Jakub Mensik but it took 5 of the NexGen abbreviated sets and an 8-6 tiebreak in the fifth.

Alex Michelson bested Nishesh Vasvareddy, another American in 4 sets.

Luca Va Assche downed Juncheng Shang in 5

As I type our pick to watch Joao Fonseca has split sets with the top see Arthur Fils, and is up a break in the third.

[stroke]

Fonseca looked great in beating Fils. He looks like he could very well be in the conversation at RG.

[jimlosaltos]

Our pick to watch Joao Fonseca just came from behind to defeat defending finalist Arthur Fils in five mini-sets. Here's a 12 sec vid clip with a near-facial: Gotcha! Fils knocked down by Fonseca's power in Jeddah

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Fonseca's forehand is certainly one of the best out there, and his backhand is also very good, no need to run around and give up court position it to hit forehands.

[jimlosaltos]

The mind boggles:

Per @thetennisletter.bsky.social
Jakub Mensik was asked to do an anti-doping test DURING his match against Arthur Fils at Next Gen ATP Finals.
Not before… not after… but right in the middle of it. I’m at a total loss for words.

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I saw that, it was unbelievable. Things were not going his way in the match vs Fils, he takes a bathroom break, and then that. He was understandably very unhappy. The Chair Umpire did immediately get involved and jumped to his defense. I am thinking maybe whoever is in charge of this stupidity somehow thought the match over.

[stroke]

The crowd is loving Fonseca in Saudi. His forehand is something.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8YiSPS8VQCanepi56

[jimlosaltos]

The round robin matches are complete, and the reverse singles semifinals are tomorrow. Two Americans meet in the first one, 20 yo Alex Michelson vs 19 yo Learner Tien, who has been tearing up the Challenger events. This is followed by our early "Pick To Watch" 18 yo Brazilian Joao Fonseca vs 20 yo French/Belgian Luca Van Assche.

Fonseca and Michelsen each finished the round robin stages undefeated at 3-0, albeit not without some difficulty. This afternoon Fonseca beat Jakub Mensik in 5 fast-four sets with a staggering five(5) tiebreaks: 3-4(4), 4-3(8), 4-3(5), 3-4(4), 4-3(5). Here are 12:08 minutes of highlights from the day incl Fonseca-Mensik. I haven't watched that video yet, But I'll still venture that I don't think I've seen anyone that can hit down-the-line off both sides with such power as often as Fonseca. And Mensik is simply a beast. Please wear a hockey mask if you get too close to your TV!

Note in this table that Michelsen won his group while barely winning over half his games: 27-24, yet he won 9 of 11 sets. Fonseca won 57+% of his games 47-35. Very different routes to the same end.

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Learner Tien is rock solid off both wings, impressive win over Mickelson to reach the Final. He started the year just out of the top 500, and here he is. Such a nice humble young man.