The revelation that threatens Tien in Jeddah: "I had been excited about the Next Gen for a while"

Carlos Navarro | 21 Dec 2025 | 12.16

Alexander Blockx will seek to conquer the Next Gen Finals this afternoon. Source: Getty

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One thing the ATP Next Gen Finals 2025 have is that they serve as a showcase and launchpad for the future stars. Each edition has left us new names to follow, players who had already made their mark on the ATP and Challenger circuits but use the end-of-year experience, isolated from any other tournament and capturing all the spotlight, to excel and leverage the momentum going into 2026.

Alexander Blockx seems to be doing just that. Reasons to break out in 2026? Varied and plentiful: his serve is one of the most potent weapons in the tournament, he has greatly improved his defensive skills, handles longer points better, possesses a powerful acceleration that changes the course of points in the blink of an eye, and ultimately seems to better grasp the timing of each match. Driven by a format that offers no rest and punishes poor service games, the Belgian is already in the final... threatening the most established "master" of all, one Learner Tien.

"I am going to prepare in the best way, I am excited about such a final. Physically I feel good, even though these matches are tough and you have less rest time between points. The exchanges are longer, and with no advantages, you don't have much time to think, so the most important thing is to stay focused and not lose mental acuity. That's what I'm doing", he confessed in words to the ATP, revealing his winning formula after dominating Budkov Kjaer in the semifinals.

A tournament that motivates him immensely and that he had been talking about for quite some time

The importance of the tournament that brings together the best young players on the circuit is measured by what its own protagonists feel. Needless to say, Blockx had this event marked in red on his calendar, a confession that may surprise many but demonstrates that he is still fully committed. "We have been (alongside Budkov Kjaer) talking about the Next Gen for quite some time. In September, we were saying, 'Imagine we make it to Jeddah and face each other there'. It's incredible to have shared this experience," stated the Belgian firmly.

His next test, no doubt, will not be easy. Facing him, Learner Tien stands out as the most experienced and established player on the circuit... but if Blockx has something in his favor, it's the freshness of not being the favorite, feeling his tennis better than ever, and wielding an arsenal of weapons that work wonders on indoor hard courts. After two Challenger titles, his first ATP victory in Cincinnati, and a significant rise in the rankings, Alexander is eager to put a golden finish to 2025. We will find out this very afternoon: don't miss it.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La revelación que amenaza a Tien en Jeddah: "Llevaba tiempo ilusionado por la Next Gen"