#NextGenATP stars chill before battle begins in Jeddah
The world’s best eight young tennis players assembled on the shore of the Red Sea in Jeddah Monday afternoon in the leadup to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, to be staged in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the second consecutive year.
Posing for the official group photo on a court comprising 37 traditional carpets and against a tennis net made of woven palm leaves, the stage was chosen to represent Jeddah’s reputation for diversity and for bringing together people and cultures.
The players began with a round of media day interviews inside the Royal Overlook Building where they could imagine jaw-dropping sightlines for the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche, scheduled for April. Frenchman Luca Van Assche, returning to the tournament for the second consecutive year, captured the track on his cell phone.
[ATP APP]Players then journeyed upstairs to the terrace overlooking the Red Sea for the official group photo. Later, as the sun was setting, the players gathered on a yacht to sail the Red Sea.
“It’s good to be here, it’s a great place,” said Czech Jakub Mensik, the No. 48 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who registered four Top 10 wins this season.
“It feels awesome [to be here]. They’ve had this tournament since 2017, so it feels really nice to be the first Brazilian,” said Joao Fonseca, who defeated Jeddah top seed Arthur Fils during the Rio Open presented by Claro in February in his signature performance of the season.
“It means I’m part of the Next Gen, and I think for me it tells me I’m on the right path, so it’s really nice.”
Group play begins Wednesday at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, leading to the semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday.
Last year’s finalist Fils heads the Blue Group, which also features Mensik, American Learner Tien and Fonseca.
Second-seeded American Alex Michelsen, back for the second time, heads the Red Group, which also features China’s Shang Juncheng, France’s Van Assche and former American college standout Nishesh Basavareddy.
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