Tennis News

Day 3 Preview: Tien vs. Budkov Kjaer caps thrilling RR finale in Jeddah

There are three semi-final spots up for grabs on Friday, the final day of round-robin action at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah.

Alexander Blockx, who leads Red Group, is the only player through, while Nicolai Budkov Kjaer is 2-0 in Blue Group. Last year’s finalist Learner Tien will look to disrupt the Norwegian’s rhythm when they face off in the final match of the day, following close friends Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar’s first tour-level meeting. 

Nishesh Basavareddy opens play in the Red Group against Justin Engel and Blockx faces Dino Prizmic.  

View Day 3 schedule here | View Qualification Scenarios here

[1] Learner Tien (USA) vs [5] Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (NOR) [second match from 7 p.m.] Budkov Kjaer has been untouchable so far, leading the Blue Group at 2-0, but Tien believes he can halt the Norwegian’s charge. The World No. 28 and lone Top 100 player in the field, Tien has yet to hit top form — squandering four match points in an error-filled loss to Jodar — though he showed signs of resurgence in a four-set comeback win over Landaluce.

Last year’s finalist knows what it takes to win in Jeddah and faces a stern test against Budkov Kjaer, who has overwhelmed opponents with his baseline power and consistency. The 19-year-old, owner of a Tour-leading four Challenger titles this season, will aim to complete a perfect 3-0 group sweep and become the first Norwegian to reach the semi-finals in tournament history.

[4] Martin Landaluce (ESP) vs [7] Rafael Jodar (ESP) [not before 7 p.m.] Childhood friends Landaluce and Jodar will set aside familiarity for an anticipated clash, with both debutants needing victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive. The Madrid natives have competed together since they were nine, but only one will have the possibility to extend his 2025 season.

Landaluce has struggled to impose his aggressive style thus far and is 0-2 and could be tested by Jodar’s high-risk, high-reward game. Jodar saved four match points for the biggest win of his career against Tien earlier in the week, but also leaked 34 unforced errors in defeat to Budkov Kjaer — a flaw he must rein in a match primed for tension and drama.

[6] Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) vs [8] Justin Engel (GER) [not before 2 p.m.] Competing in Jeddah for the second consecutive year, Basavareddy is aiming to improve upon last year’s 1-2 match record and qualify for the semi-finals. The American, who is accompanied in Jeddah by new coach Gilles Cervara, will look to bounce back from his three-set defeat to Blockx. The 20-year-old is 1-1 this week.

Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Engel, the youngest player in the field, is vying for his first win in his debut appearance. The German has suffered a pair of four-set defeats, but has shown plenty of firepower from the baseline, a trait he will look to use against Basavareddy. In June, Engel became the second-youngest player since 1990 to win a tour-level match (excluding Davis Cup) on all three surfaces: hard, clay and grass. Only Rafael Nadal accomplished the feat at a younger age. He then became the youngest ATP Challenger champion of 2025 with his October triumph in Hamburg.

[2] Alexander Blockx (BEL) vs [3] Dino Prizmic (CRO) [second match from 2 p.m.]
Blockx has showcased his clutch instincts this week, building a 2-0 record in Red Group highlighted by two narrow tie-break wins on Thursday against Basavareddy. The 20-year-old dramatically saved three set points in the second-set tie-break alone. Showcasing his hefty serve and raw firepower from the baseline, Blockx has saved 12 of the 13 break points he’s faced across two matches, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

The 20-year-old is the first Belgian to reach the semi-finals in the tournament’s eight-year history, but his attention will first be on avenging his February loss to Prizmic, who beat Blockx 6-3, 6-2 at an indoor-hard ATP Challenger event in Lugano. Prizmic earned his debut win Thursday against Engel to improve to 1-1 in round-robin action.

Source link

ATP Partners Summit 2025 brings global partners together in Jeddah

The ATP this week hosted the 2025 ATP Partners Summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, bringing together senior representatives from across the Tour’s global partner portfolio for two days of collaboration, insight-sharing and strategic discussion.

Held alongside the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, the Summit marked the first time the annual partners gathering has taken place in Jeddah, reinforcing the growing connection between the ATP and Saudi Arabia as the Tour continues to expand its global footprint.

The ATP Partners Summit is held annually at different Tour destinations and has previously taken place in cities including Monte-Carlo, Rome, Dubai, London, Estoril and Madrid. The event provides a dedicated forum for partners to engage directly with ATP leadership, exchange best practices and explore opportunities to further grow the game together.

[ATP APP]

Across the two-day programme, a wide range of topics have been discussed, including the ATP’s long-term strategic vision, fan engagement, data-driven decision-making, sustainability, and the evolving role of partnerships in sport. The Summit also featured contributions from leading external speakers, including SURJ, TikTok, Two Circles, GWI and GSIQ, offering insights into platform innovation, partnership activation, fan intelligence and performance measurement. Sessions also explored how partners can activate more effectively across platforms and leverage players to deepen fan connection.

In addition to the business sessions, partners experienced the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF firsthand, including a venue tour, player meet-and-greet and live match action, offering a unique opportunity to see the ATP’s future stars in action.

Speaking at the Summit, ATP Chief Business Officer Daniele Sano said: “The 2025 Partners Summit follows a period of strong momentum for the ATP’s commercial programme, including the onboarding of five new global partners and the renewal of six existing partnership agreements in 2025, reflecting continued confidence in the Tour’s long-term strategy and global reach.”

The ATP Partners Summit concluded with a shared focus on innovation, collaboration and long-term value creation, as the Tour and its partners look ahead to the 2026 season and beyond.

Source link

Budkov Kjaer moves to the brink of semi-finals at Next Gen ATP Finals, Tien earns crucial win

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer moved to the brink of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF semi-finals on Thursday in Jeddah, where he overcame Spaniard Rafael Jodar 4-1, 4-2, 1-4, 4-2.

The Norwegian produced an impressive display to defeat Martin Landaluce in four sets in his Blue Group opener and is now 2-0 this week after resisting a mid-match fightback from Jodar in the King Abdullah Sports City.

“I’m just trying to focus on winning the matches, but to be qualified [would be] cool, so I hope it happens,” said Budkov Kjaer. “I started off great… Every shot I played went in, and Rafa was probably a bit nervous, which is probably normal. It’s tough to play a match after a big win. I’m very happy with the win of course.”

In front of a lively crowd, Budkov Kjaer fired two aces and an unreturned first serve in his final service game to wrap up victory in 79 minutes. With his win, he earned a dose of Jodar revenge, having lost to the Spaniard in the 2024 US Open boys’ singles final.

In a standout season, the Norwegian has won four ATP Challenger Tour titles and climbed from outside the Top 500 in the PIF ATP Rankings to No. 138.

Jodar, a three-time Challenger Tour champion this year, upset World No. 28 Learner Tien in his Jeddah opener to record his first Top 100 win. The 19-year-old Spaniard is 1-1 this week and will meet Landaluce in his final round-robin match, still very much in contention for a semi-final berth.

In the final match on Day 2, Tien earned victory in a crucial must-win match against Landaluce to stay alive in Jeddah. The 20-year-old squandered four match points in his opening defeat to Jodar on Wednesday but ensured history did not repeat itself against Landaluce, recovering after failing to serve out the match at 3-1, 40/0 in the fourth set.

After wasting four more match point opportunities on Day 2 in Jeddah, Tien recomposed himself in the fourth-set tie-break, upping the aggression to eventually record a 1-4, 4-1, 4-3(4), 4-3(2) win against the 19-year-old Spaniard.

Tien advanced to the title match at the 20-and-under event last season, falling to Joao Fonseca in the final. The American will aim to leave Saudi Arabia with the crown this week and is now 1-1 in Blue Group play. The lefty will meet Blue Group leader Budkov Kjaer in his final round-robin match on Friday.

Tien arrived in Jeddah as the strong tournament favourite following a breakthrough season on Tour. He won his first ATP Tour title at the 250 event in Metz, recorded five Top 10 wins and enjoyed a fourth-round run at the Australian Open, climbing to a career-high No. 28.

Landaluce, a Challenger Tour champion this season, is 0-2 this week.

Source link

Knowles teams with McEnroe & more at Baha Mar Cup fundraiser

Mark Knowles, former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Doubles Rankings, hosted the sixth annual Baha Mar Cup this past weekend. The star-studded fundraising event, featuring John McEnroe alongside many ATP and WTA stars as well as celebrities, raised more than $300,000 for the Baha Mar Foundation, which benefits the Mark Knowles Charity Tennis Initiative.

The four-day event in the Bahamas featured exhibition matches, a celebrity pro-am, multiple clinics, and much more. In addition to Knowles and McEnroe, the Baha Mar Cup was highlighted by a list of active and former professional tennis players, including Tommy Paul, James Blake, Milos Raonic, Jessica Pegula, Victoria Azarenka, Sabine Lisicki, Olga Savchuk and Spencer Papa.

^{ATP Tour and Hologic WTA Tour stars in attendance at the 2025 Baha Mar Cup. Credit: Creviiimedia}

Those were not the only celebrities on hand. Actor Jason Isaacs, renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson, The Bachelor and Dancing With The Stars personality Joey Graziadei and professional golfer Matt Kuchar were also in attendance.

“It was a fantastic weekend of fun, laughter and sport all in the spirit of giving back to children’s charities in my beautiful country,” said Knowles, the Bahamian who won 55 tour-level doubles titles in his career, including three major trophies with long-time partner Daniel Nestor.

“Thank you to all of the pros, celebrities, amateurs and the entire staff for putting on the most amazing event of the season.”

<img alt=”From left to right: Jason Isaacs, Tommy Paul, Mark Knowles and Marcus Samuelsson.” style=”width:100%” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/18/16/02/baha-mar-2025-december.jpg” />
^{From left to right: Jason Isaacs, Tommy Paul, Mark Knowles and Marcus Samuelsson. Credit: Creviiimedia}

Source link

Prizmic strikes back, keeps Jeddah SF hopes alive

After a sluggish start to his debut campaign at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, Dino Prizmic is up and running thanks to an electric performance on Thursday afternoon.

The 20-year-old Croatian fended off a spirited Justin Engel 4-1, 2-4, 4-3(3), 4-1 with an eye-catching blend of power and precision. Having fallen to Nishesh Basavareddy in four sets on Wednesday, the third-seeded Prizmic is now 1-1 in the Red Group and will aim to secure qualification for the semi-finals when he faces fellow debutant Alexander Blockx on Friday.

Clinical Croatian 🔥

Dino wins 82% of points #InAttack on his way to a group stage win in Jeddah 👏

Conversion Score calculates how often a player has won a point when they have been in attack during the point 📊#TennisInsights | @atptour | @nextgenfinals pic.twitter.com/tMIal3TioY

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) December 18, 2025

“Of course [it was a must win] if I want to stay and fight for the semi-finals,” said Prizmic. “I’m very happy with my performance, I am getting better with every match. Today was a good match for me.

“The conditions are very fast, so I just tried to play better [than Wednesday] and to use fast footwork. From yesterday, I’m very happy about the performance and I think it will be even better tomorrow.”

As well as delivering a selection of squeaky-clean drop shots, Prizmic sent the fans into a frenzy with a blistering backhand winner on the run to earn the crucial break in the fourth set. He let out a mighty roar knowing that he still has plenty more to give in his Jeddah debut.

Both of Prizmic’s 2025 ATP Challenger Tour titles have come on clay, his preferred surface, but on Thursday he showed just how effective his grit and elasticity can be on indoor hard courts.

Basvareddy, who is one of two returners (also Learner Tien), could qualify for the semi-finals if he defeats Blockx on Thursday.

Source link

Landaluce & Jodar: From Madrid mates to Jeddah contenders

The buzz around the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF couldn’t feel further removed from the red clay courts tucked away in Madrid, but for Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar, the connection is unmistakable.

Both Spaniards were born in 2006, both grew up at the club in the Spanish capital — Chanmartin Tennis Club — and both have been orbiting each other since they were nine years old. Their journeys haven’t always been run side by side, but fittingly, they’ve crossed again on one of the biggest stages of their young careers: grouped together at the 20-and-under showpiece in Jeddah.

“It’s fun because we’ve known each other since we were nine years old, and he’s been a good friend of mine,” Landaluce told ATPTour.com, reflecting on his relationship with Jodar. “We played many, many times and we were in many tournaments together.

“There was a time I distanced a bit more to play in better tournaments, but now we are back together here in Jeddah, and it’s nice to have him here.”

Their story is one of shared beginnings but rather separate detours. Landaluce committed early to the professional path, leaving Madrid at 14 to train at the Rafa Nadal Academy. The exposure paid off quickly and at 16, he won the 2022 US Open boys’ singles title, a result that put him firmly on the radar.

Meanwhile, Jodar — who stands one inch shorter than Landaluce at 6’3“ — took a more measured route. Yet two years later, he carved his name onto the same US Open trophy as Landaluce with his 2024 triumph, adding another shared chapter to their story.

“When I won the 2022 US Open, I think he [Jodar] thought, ‘If he does it, why am I not able to do it?’,” Landaluce said. “Then he won it last year, and it’s so good to have this. I think we both are pushing each other, and it’s nice to have a Spaniard here, who is also from Madrid and he’s also from my club.”

After triumphing at Flushing Meadows, Jodar headed straight into college tennis at the University of Virginia, where he is now a sophomore. In 2025, the 19-year-old blended the structure of the NCAA with a late-season surge on the ATP Challenger Tour, where he won three titles and catapulted over 700 spots in the PIF ATP Rankings to World No. 168.

“It feels very good to be back here as a player,” said Jodar, who served as a hitting partner in Jeddah last year. “When I was here hitting with these players last year, I was thinking to myself that maybe one day I was going to make it, and fortunately, things were very good this year. At the end of the season, I had very good results and that gave me the opportunity to play here in Jeddah.”

Last year’s 20-and-under event already felt like a preview of what was to come. Landaluce missed the cut by a single spot and attended as an alternate, while Jodar was present as a hitting partner, soaking it all in and getting a close-up look at the level required.

Twelve months on and the roles have changed considerably: Landaluce returns not on standby, but as the fourth seed, and Jodar is no longer confined to the practice courts, but in the field as one of the fastest-rising players of 2025.

While their paths have differed, their inspirations are very much shared. Nadal remains the benchmark and meeting the 22-time major champion in Jeddah last year was a childhood moment realised. And, like so many young Spaniards, both have drawn motivation from Carlos Alcaraz’s ascent to World No. 1.

“We’ve had many good Spanish players,” Jodar said. “When Rafa Nadal was finishing his career, Alcaraz came to keep winning Grand Slams for Spain. It’s a great feeling to see Spanish players winning major titles, and I’m super happy how things are going for Alcaraz, he’s a great person.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tenis España (@rfetenis)

Now, the two Madrid natives find themselves back where it all began — together, competing at the same event, pushing each other once more. From shared junior tournaments to different milestones, from alternates and hitting partners to seeded contenders, Landaluce and Jodar have arrived in Jeddah as peers inside the world’s Top 200.

The setting may be new, but the story feels familiar.

The Spaniards find themselves in a tough Blue Group, which also features top seed and last year’s finalist Learner Tien and four-time Challenger champion in 2025 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.

Source link

Djokovic’s praise lingers as Prizmic charts his own path in Jeddah

“I love the way he uses every inch of the court. He is comfortable coming in, he defends incredibly well… I felt I was playing myself in a mirror.”

When praise like that comes from Novak Djokovic, it tends to linger. For Dino Prizmic, it arrived early and emphatically in a career still in its opening chapters.

At last year’s Australian Open, the 20-year-old Croatian pushed Djokovic to four sets in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, earning the admiration of the former World No. 1. Eighteen months later, Luciano Darderi echoed those sentiments after beating Prizmic in the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 in Umag.

“I hope he’s going to be Top 10 really soon,” Darderi said. “I think Croatia is in good hands.”

This week in Jeddah, where Prizmic is competing at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, those endorsements remain a source of motivation rather than pressure.

“It’s a really good feeling, but I know that I need to work a lot, especially to be in the Top 10,” Prizmic told ATPTour.com in Jeddah. “I need to continue to play lots of tournaments at a very high level to get near those levels, but I will try.

“Is there a pressure? No, definitely more confidence. There is no pressure in that part.”

Prizmic first announced himself in 2023 by lifting the Roland Garros boys’ singles trophy, fulfilling a personal goal to finish his junior career with a Grand Slam title. His breakout moment soon followed under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, where he stood toe-to-toe with Djokovic on one of the sport’s grandest stages.

But momentum stalled in 2024. A series of injuries forced Prizmic off course, limiting his schedule and disrupting his rhythm. Rather than rush his return, the Croatian opted for patience, a decision that paid dividends this season.

“It was really a great year for me, especially at the end of the year. I played very well and had a very good run,” Prizmic said. “It’s really a pleasure to be here in Jeddah and to be part of this tournament.

“I didn’t play lots of tournaments because I was injured still a little. I played like 15, 16 tournaments. And I’m the most proud because I didn’t play many tournaments, but when I played, I played very good.”

Back at full health, Prizmic rebuilt his confidence on the ATP Challenger Tour, capturing two titles in 2025. He also qualified for the US Open main draw and claimed three tour-level victories, tangible signs of progress as he continues his transition to the professional ranks.

“Players have more experience now, which is normal. But I think I am adjusting to the level,” said Prizmic, who went 27-9 at that level this year. “Playing the Challengers compared to juniors is different, but I think everyone can adapt.”

That adaptability will be tested again this week in Jeddah. After losing to Nishesh Basavareddy in his opening match, Prizmic faces a likely must-win encounter against Justin Engel on Thursday as he looks to keep his campaign alive.

Still just 20, the Croatian remains focused on steady growth rather than fast-forwarded expectations. The praise is there. The talent is evident. And while the road ahead may twist, the Croatian appears ready for each course correction.

Source link

Day 2 Preview: Budkov Kjaer & Jodar seek SF spots in Jeddah

High stakes define Day 2 at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah, where players are vying to strengthen their positioning in Red and Blue Group.

Thursday’s matches carry significant implications, with last year’s finalist Learner Tien aiming to bounce back and avoid slipping to 0-2 in Blue Group after relinquishing four match points in a five-set defeat to Rafael Jodar. American Tien faces Martin Landaluce, while Blue Group Day 1 winners Jodar and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer meet.

Tien’s countryman Nishesh Basavareddy, who is also competing in Jeddah for a second consecutive year, made a winning start on Wednesday and will now look to follow that against second seed Alexander Blockx in Red Group. Debutants Dino Prizmic and Justin Engel will seek their first win at the 20-and-under event.

View Day 2 Schedule here  | View Qualification Scenarios here

[5] Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (NOR) vs [7] Rafael Jodar (ESP) [not before 7 p.m.]
Day 1 winners Budkov Kjaer and Jodar will aim to book their spots in the semi-finals when they face off on Thursday. The two have been in red-hot form on the ATP Challenger Tour in 2025, winning seven titles between them and they looked sharp in their Jeddah openers. 

Jodar upset Top 30 star Tien to record his first Top 100 win and has fond memories against Budkov Kjaer, having beaten the Norwegian in the US Open boys’ singles final in 2024. Budkov Kjaer produced an aggressive four-set display against Landaluce to move to 1-0 in round-robin play.

[1] Learner Tien (USA) vs [4] Martin Landaluce (ESP) [following Budkov Kjaer-Jodar] The strong favourite for the title in Jeddah, World No. 28 Tien will try to bounce back from his defeat to Jodar when he plays Spaniard Landaluce. Tien won his maiden ATP Tour title in the final week of the regular season in Metz in but had his five-match winning streak ended on Day 1 in Jeddah.

Landaluce will need to earn the biggest win of his career by PIF ATP Ranking if he is to stay alive at the 20-and-under event. Earlier this season, the 19-year-old captured his second ATP Challenger Tour title and earned a win at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati. Can the Spaniard clinch another big victory on Thursday?

[2] Alexander Blockx (BEL) vs [6] Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) [not before 3 p.m.]
This clash of 20-year-olds pits Blockx’s booming serve against Basavareddy’s sharp return skills. Blockx blasted 17 aces and claimed 85 per cent of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, in his opening win over Engel. Meanwhile, Basavareddy displayed his aggression on second-serve returns, claiming 57 per cent of such points against Prizmic.

With the First-to-4 format, there is little room for error in this tug-of-war of serve and returning, with a sole lead of Red Group up for grabs. Basavareddy, who recently welcomed coach Gilles Cervara to his team, is competing in Jeddah for the second consecutive year, while Blockx is enjoying his first trip to the 20-and-under event. Thursday will mark the first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between Blockx and Basavareddy.

[3] Dino Prizmic (CRO) vs [8] Justin Engel (GER) [2 p.m.]
The beauty of round-robin action is despite Prizmic and Engel’s defeats on opening day, they remain in contention, though with ground to make up. Prizmic, 20, defeated Engel 6-2, 6-2 at this year’s ATP Challenger clay-court event in San Marino, where the Croatian was a finalist. Prizmic won two ATP Challenger titles this year and reached three additional finals.

Engel this season became the second-youngest player since 1990 to win a tour-level match (excluding Davis Cup) on all three surfaces: hard, clay and grass. Only Rafael Nadal accomplished the feat at a younger age. The 18-year-old showcased the forehand firepower he is capable of producing in his opening match against Blockx, and now he aims at rebounding and claiming his debut win. Blockx spoke highly of Engel after the four-set match, calling the youngest competitor in the field “an unbelievable player”.

Source link

Alcaraz & Ferrero: Inside their seven-year journey

Carlos Alcaraz was 14 years old when Juan Carlos Ferrero first watched him play. Drawn by whispers of a special talent emerging close to his tennis academy in southeast Spain, the former World No. 1 caught his first glimpse of Alcaraz competing in a tournament.

That moment was the genesis of a successful partnership that officially began in 2018 and, after seven years, Alcaraz and Ferrero announced on Wednesday has come to an end.

Their success was intertwined. Where there was Alcaraz, there was Ferrero. They were synonymous throughout Alcaraz’s meteoric rise onto the Tour and to where he is today, having just finished the season with ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours.

“He means a lot to me,” Alcaraz said of Ferrero last year. “Obviously it’s a great support when I have him in the box. His support is really special to me. We started when I was playing in juniors, he did Grade 4 [tournaments] travelling with me.”

Under Ferrero’s leadership, Alcaraz claimed 24 tour-level titles, including six majors. The Spaniard won his first major crown in 2022 at the US Open and with that victory, the then-19-year-old became the youngest World No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history.

“It’s a surprise to everyone, except to me,” Ferrero said at the time. “Because I train with him every day and I know what he can do.”

Alcaraz and Ferrero’s bond was never defined solely by trophies. Their connection ran deeper, revealed most clearly in moments like in Miami in 2022 when Alcaraz was preparing for his first ATP Masters 1000 final.

Ferrero had not been at the hard-court tournament because his father, Eduardo, passed away. But Ferrero flew to Florida for the final. When Alcaraz saw his coach, he leaped off the couch and gave Ferrero a warm embrace. Hours later, Alcaraz lifted the trophy and became the youngest champion in tournament history.

“Juan Carlos is a very important person for me,” Alcaraz said after that Miami victory. “On the professional side, on the personal side, he helps me a lot on both sides. When we are together, we will talk about everything in life, everything in our sport, about football, as well.

“I consider him a coach and a friend as well. So I can talk to him about everything.”

At Wimbledon in 2023, Ferrero’s eyes welled with tears as he hugged Alcaraz, moments after the Spaniard captured his first grass-court major. Alcaraz successfully defended his All England crown in 2024 to complete the rare Roland Garros–Wimbledon double that season.

<img alt=”Alcaraz and Ferrero embrace after the 2023 Wimbledon final.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/17/17/16/alcaraz-ferrero-2024-wimbledon.jpg” />
^{Alcaraz and Ferrero embrace after the 2023 Wimbledon final. Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images}

Alcaraz and Ferrero’s partnership was filled with success. This year, Alcaraz captured a career-best eight tour-level titles and a season-leading 71 match wins, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

One of Alcaraz’s most dramatic victories came in the Roland Garros final, during which he rallied from two-sets-to-love down and saved three championship points to escape great rival Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz climbed into his courtside coaches’ box and shared a raw-emotion celebration with Ferrero, who lifted the 22-year-old in the air, and together they let out an emphatic roar of, ‘Vamos!”

“Of course I think he [was] born to play these kinds of moments,” Ferrero said after Alcaraz’s epic five-hour, 29-minute triumph.

While a player-coach relationship involves a variety of advice, for Alcaraz and Ferrero, sometimes it was simple. When asked about his mid-match communication with Ferrero last year, Alcaraz shared the one word he hears the most — and it may surprise you.

“I can tell you one of the things he tells me most is, ‘Smile’,” Alcaraz revealed.

Undoubtedly, Alcaraz and Ferrero can look back on their seven-year partnership and smile.

<img alt=”Alcaraz celebrates his title run at the 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF with Ferrero.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/12/17/17/21/alcaraz-ferrero-2021.jpg” />
^{Alcaraz celebrates his title run at the 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF with Ferrero. Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}

Source link

Jodar saves 4 MPs, stuns top seed Tien in Jeddah thriller

Rafael Jodar ensured that there was no shortage of drama on his debut appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah on Wednesday evening.

The World No. 168 saved four match points in a courageous 1-4, 4-3(3), 1-4, 4-2, 4-3(4) win over top seed and tournament favourite Learner Tien in front of a vibrant crowd. Jodar, who was in Jeddah last year as a hitting partner, delivered a heavy-hitting display and used his fearless aggression late in the fifth-set to earn a two-hour victory.

That Jodar celebration 🎉 #NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/RiAFMLmyrJ

— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 17, 2025

“It was a battle,” said Jodar. “I knew the conditions were good for both, but I handled the good moments very well and I’m super happy to get the first win here in Jeddah. I just tried to keep going and believe in myself. Learner always plays well, so I had to keep believing and I knew that I was going to have a chance.”

Tien, the World No. 28 and only Top 100 player in the field, leaked 23 unforced errors across the second and fourth sets to offer Jodar a route back into their first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash. But the 19-year-old Spaniard will take all the plaudits for the way he fended off the match points — including a drilled backhand down-the-line winner on the fourth.

After moving to 1-0 in Blue Group, the seventh-seeded Jodar can now look ahead to meetings with two fellow debutants — Martin Landaluce and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer — in the round-robin stage.

Source link