Learner Tian faces undefeated Alexander Blockx in Next Generation ATP Finals redemption ATP Tour
Game preview
Tien faces undefeated Blockx in battle for redemption at Next Generation ATP Finals
Last year’s finalists Tien will meet top newcomers Blockx on Sunday at 8pm (IST) / 6pm (CET)
December 20, 2025
Colleen Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Students Tien and Alexander Blockx will compete for the 2025 Next Generation ATP Finals title in Jeddah on Sunday.
Jerome Coombe
Who will be crowned the new tennis star at PIF’s Next Generation ATP Finals in Jeddah?
Top seeds Tien and Alexander Blockx will face off in Sunday’s championship match, set to take place just before 8pm EST (6pm CET), after both players made convincing statements throughout the week. Bullocks, a 6-foot-4 rookie, used powerful groundstrokes from both wings to advance to the finals with a perfect 4-0 record, while Tian found his rhythm after a shaky start and looked to make up for a loss to João Fonseca in the 2024 championship game.
The final also has a subtle but meaningful subplot. Blockx defeated Tien in the 2023 Australian Open men’s final, narrowly winning 11-9 in the third set tie-break. It was a gripping encounter—perhaps a glimpse of what awaited Jeddah—and one that is etched in American memory.
“The only thing I remember is that it was the most heartbreaking loss of my life,” Tian said with a laugh. “We’ve obviously both improved a lot since then. I’ve got to rest and come up with a new game plan. Hopefully I can perform well tomorrow. I think it’s going to be a very tough game.”
While the two have crossed paths at junior level, Sunday’s match marked their first Lexus ATP head-to-head meeting. It is also the first final between the tournament’s top two seeds since Carlos Alcaraz defeated Sebastian Korda in Milan in 2021.
World No. 28 Tien won his first ATP Tour title in Metz last month and takes five wins against top 10 players in 2025. The 20-year-old is also the only top-100 player on the Jeddah scene, but Blockx will be ready for a fight.
“Against Learner, it will be a truly epic match after Australia two years ago,” Blockx said before the Tien semi-final results were announced. “I love playing against lefties, but honestly, I don’t care who I play tomorrow, it’s going to be fun.”
Blockx and Tien meet again🏆
2023 ➡️ Australian Open Junior Finals
2025 ➡️ Next Generation ATP Finals#NextGenATP finals pic.twitter.com/kN085WXezq— NextGen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 20, 2025
According to Infosys ATP statistics, Tian has dropped serve 10 times heading into the final. Facing a fearless serving Brox, who has been broken just five times this week, the American will need to tighten up those numbers in Sunday’s decider.
Belgium’s Broux, who has hit 107 winners in four wins, looked right at home on his debut in the 20-and-under event. By contrast, Tian – one of the only returners – has bounced back from a slow start and then found his best tennis when it matters most.
“When I came here, I didn’t feel comfortable,” said Tian, who conceded four match points to Rafael Hodahl in the opener. “It’s not like everyone is super fit, especially in different formats. It can bring you down. I think it helps a little bit [reaching the final last year] But I wouldn’t say it made a huge difference. “
Off the court, Bullocks made the most of his time in Jeddah, using the event as an opportunity to build friendships with other competitors – an aspect he values highly.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” Brockers said of the possibility of winning the title. “But most importantly, I had a lot of fun this week. I enjoyed every second of it. I also got closer to the guys and they’re all so nice. The relationships off the court are so important. I feel like my week couldn’t have been better, so I’m happy with all the games I played.”
Having won two ATP Challenger titles and risen to a career-high No. 101 in the 2025 PIF ATP Rankings, Blockx appears poised to crack the top 100. However, one more win in Jeddah could reshape his young career.
The 20-year-old will earn $539,750 if he goes undefeated, more than $30,000 more than his previous career winnings. What stands in his way is Tian, who arrives with unfinished business and is determined to go one step further than last season and make a breakthrough in 2025 by lifting the trophy that slipped from his hands in 2024.
