Match Preview
Tien faces unbeaten Blockx in Next Gen ATP Finals redemption bid
Last year’s finalist Tien meets big-time debutant Blockx on Sunday not before 8 p.m. AST/ 6 p.m CET
December 20, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Learner Tien and Alexander Blockx will compete for the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals title on Sunday in Jeddah.
By Jerome Coombe
Who will be crowned tennis’ newest rising star at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah?
Top seeds Learner Tien and Alexander Blockx will square off in Sunday’s title match, scheduled for not before 8 p.m. AST (6 p.m. CET), after both players made compelling statements throughout the week. Armed with heavy groundstrokes from both wings, 6’4” debutant Blockx stormed into the final with a flawless 4-0 record, while Tien is finding his rhythm after a shaky start as he looks to make amends for his championship-match defeat to Joao Fonseca in 2024.
There is also a subtle but meaningful subplot to the final. Blockx defeated Tien in the 2023 Australian Open boys’ final, edging a dramatic third-set tie-break 11-9. It was a gripping encounter — perhaps a glimpse of what awaits in Jeddah — and one that remains etched in the American’s memory.
“The only thing I remember is that it was the most heartbreaking loss of my life up to that point,” Tien said with a laugh. “We’ve obviously both improved a lot since then. I’ll have to rest up and form a new game plan. Hopefully I can come out well tomorrow. I think it will be a really tough match.”
While the pair crossed paths in juniors, Sunday’s clash marks their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. It also represents the first final between the tournament’s top two seeds since 2021, when Carlos Alcaraz defeated Sebastian Korda in Milan.
Tien, the World No. 28, won his first ATP Tour title in Metz last month and has earned five wins over Top 10 players in 2025. The 20-year-old is also the only Top 100 player in the Jeddah field, but Blockx will be up for the fight.
“Against Learner, it would be a really epic one after Australia two years ago,” Blockx said before the outcome of Tien’s semi-final. “I like to play against lefties, but to be honest, I don’t care who I’m playing tomorrow, it’s going to be fun.”
Blockx and Tien meet again 🏆
2023 ➡️ Australian Open Juniors Final
2025 ➡️ Next Gen ATP Final#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/kN085WXezq— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 20, 2025
Tien has dropped his serve 10 times en route to the final, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Against the fearless-serving Blockx, who has been broken just five times this week, the American will need to tighten those numbers in Sunday’s decider.
Belgium’s Blockx, who has struck 107 winners across his four victories, has looked right at home in his debut appearance at the 20-and-under event. In contrast, Tien — one of only returners — has recovered from a slow start before finding some of his best tennis when it mattered most.
“I didn’t feel super settled in when I got here,” said Tien, who let slip four match points to Rafael Jodar in his opener. “It’s not like everyone’s super match fit, especially with the different format. It throws you off. I think it helped a little bit [reaching the final last year] but I wouldn’t say it’s made a huge difference.”
Off the court, Blockx has made the most of his time in Jeddah, using the event as an opportunity to build friendships with his fellow competitors — an aspect he values highly.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” Blockx said about the possibility of winning the title. “But what means the most is that I had so much fun this week. I’ve enjoyed every second of it. I also got closer to the guys, who are all very nice. Relationships off the court are very important. I feel like my week couldn’t have gone any better, so I am just happy with all the matches I’ve had.”
Having won two ATP Challenger Tour titles and risen to a career-high No. 101 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2025, Blockx appears poised for a Top 100 breakthrough. Yet one more victory in Jeddah could reshape the course of his young career.
An undefeated title run could earn the 20-year-old $539,750, a sum exceeding his previous career prize money by more than $30,000. Standing in his way is Tien, who arrives with unfinished business of his own, determined to go one step further than last season and crown his 2025 breakthrough by lifting the trophy that slipped from his grasp in 2024.
