ATP Next Gen Finals aka Jeddah

[jimlosaltos]

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.

Indeed. First time I'd seen him play.

ATP Scoreline: Learner Tien became the third American to reach the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF title match on Saturday in Jeddah, where he beat long-time friend Alex Michelsen 2-4, 4-2, 1-4, 4-0, 4-1.

Sackmann's take pre match, excerpts: "Can Learner Tien Hang With the Big Boys? Tien’s transition from the Challenger tour to the big leagues could be rocky. Good defense and well-executed tactics are enough to clean up against top-200 competition. The combination was (just barely) sufficient against Mensik yesterday. But a full-time spot on the ATP tour requires more... The overall package is something between those of two other left-handers, Adrian Mannarino and Cam Norrie. Mannarino, also a sub-six-footer, throws the kitchen sink at opponents, keeping them off balance to compensate for his own lack of power. Norrie is considerably taller and has more firepower at his disposal. But he, too, refuses any rhythm to the man across the net. He alternates a loopy forehand with a flat backhand–except when he doesn’t, if you ever think you’ve found a groove.

[stroke]

Fonseca and his injection of pace forehand and rock solid top 3 ATP on tour backhand looks a lot like Sinner. He certainly looks like a future multiple GS winner. His first may happen this next year at RG. How soon for top 10 the question. He also is a very likeable humble young man.

[stroke]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DD2lcdAu4cI/?img_index=1&igsh=MXJ4MzdwbzUwM3lkYg==

[jimlosaltos]

Well, I did not see this coming - Learner Tien takes the first set against almost-prohibitive favorite Joao Sousa.

The diminutive Tien has won more points on his first serve (82% vs 75%) despite serving a whopping 18 MPH slower ( Joao ave 126 mph first, Tien 108 ). Sackmann said Tien's return was good, and I guess he was right.

[jimlosaltos]

Unsteady, up and down match. Fonseca started out slowly with his forehand uncharacteristically off. Tien had far more forehand winners than the Brazilian in the first set and was returning great.

But Fonseca steadied the ship, and pulled away.

For the match, groundstroke velocities are almost identical, with any edge going to the much smaller American. But in the end, the better serve took over.

1 of 2 for third set where Fonseca took over with a .. let's call it a micro-bagel at 4-0.

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2 of 2 For entire match

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#

[jimlosaltos]

Excerpt from a profile of Joao Fonseca on The Athletic by Matthew Futterman.


"This is a typical training day schedule for him, which begins with tests on his muscles to determine how hard he can go that day:

• 8:30 a.m.: Tests
• 9 a.m.: Physiotherapy and warm-up
• 10 a.m.: Gym
• 11 a.m.: Practice on court
• 1 p.m.: Lunch and rest
• 3 p.m.: On court
• 4:30 p.m.: Gym
• 5:30pm: Physiotherapy, if needed

"Teixeira said Fonseca is also paying more attention to his rest and what he eats. He is diligent with breathing exercises that can help him stay calm during matches. Improving his footwork is high on the agenda for 2025.

"Fonseca is still a teenager, though. He can only manage a month or so away from home before fatigue and homesickness set in. This season, he tried to play tournaments for four or five weeks, before returning home for a couple weeks of training and seeing his friends and family.

~~~~~~

"He was lucky enough to be born into a family of means with sports-mad parents. His mother flirted with professional volleyball. She and her husband, who competed in junior tennis in Brazil as a teenager, have run half-marathons and competed in road and mountain cycling and adventure races.