Player features
Could young Engel come of age in Jeddah?
18-year-old German will face Blockx, Prizmic and Basavareddy in the Next Generation ATP Finals
December 16, 2025
Colleen Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Justin Engel spent time at Jeddah’s Silver Beach on Monday.
Sam Jacott
Becoming the youngest player to compete in the Next Generation ATP Finals presented by PIF Field has historically been a promising sign. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Joao Fonseca all lifted the trophy as the youngest entrants in the 2019, 2021 and 2024 draws, and this week Justin Engel aims to follow in their footsteps.
The 18-year-old German is the youngest player in the eight-man draw and has sealed his place in the tournament after a successful season that included an ATP Challenger title in Hamburg. So, can the youngest age reduce stress? Not so Engel, who told ATPTour.com at Jeddah’s Silver Beach with refreshing confidence that he doesn’t feel pressure.
“I’ve never been under pressure,” Engel said at Monday’s media day. “Of course, I get a little nervous before games, but that’s normal. If you’re not nervous, you’re not taking your sport seriously. But pressure? No, I don’t feel that way.”
Twelve months ago, Fonseca, then 18, was the lowest-ranked and youngest player in the draw. However, he outlasted his opponents and allowed Jeddah to win the championship, laying the foundation for his meteoric rise. The Brazilian built on this breakthrough win by winning two ATP Tour titles in 2025 and climbing to a career-high No. 24 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Engel is aware that if he were to go deep into Jeddah, he might draw comparisons, especially since he recently became the second-youngest player after Rafael Nadal to win a tour-level match at all three venues. However, he remained firmly focused on his path.
“I didn’t really focus on what they did. They won the game, but I didn’t really think about it too much,” Engel said. “I just try to play the best tennis I can and go out there and have fun, that’s the point.”
Engel’s love for tennis began at the age of three in Nuremberg, where he grew up idolizing Nadal. In 2024, he won his first tour-level victory in Almaty, marking an important milestone in his career. The 187th-ranked player in the PIF ATP Rankings built on that success with a victory on clay in Hamburg and an impressive quarter-final appearance at the ATP 250 grass-court event in Stuttgart, showcasing his versatility on different surfaces.
“The fans really had an impact on me in Germany, especially in Stuttgart and Hamburg,” Engel said. “It was unbelievable to play in front of them. Hamburg is my favorite event because it’s an ATP 500 event, and beating a friend of mine, Jan-Lennard Struff, made it even more special. That period was a real boost for me.”
In Saudi Arabia, Engel will be looking to perform at his best when he takes on Alexander Blockx, Dino Prizmic and Nishesh Basavareddy in the round-robin stage against Blockx on Wednesday.
