Van Assche, Fonseca step out for Sunday practices in Jeddah
Anticipation is building for the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, where some of the contenders at this year’s 20-and-under event hit the practice courts Sunday.
Luca Van Assche sparred with alternate Martin Landaluce at King Abdullah Sports City as he gears up for his second Jeddah campaign. The Frenchman, currently No. 128 in the PIF ATP Rankings, reached the semi-finals in 2023, and he will this year compete as the sixth seed in the city on the Red Sea.
Joao Fonseca is one of five debutants in the Jeddah field this year. The 18-year-old, who is the first Brazilian to qualify for the event since it began in 2017, also practised on Sunday afternoon with tournament hitting partner Rafael Jodar. Jakub Mensik and Shang Juncheng followed Fonseca onto court for an all-Top 50 practice, with the in-form Nishesh Basavareddy set to hit later with 18-year-old Spaniard Jodar.
<img alt=”Joao Fonseca” style=”width: 100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/12/15/12/44/fonseca-next-gen-2024-sunday-practice-volley.jpg” />
Joao Fonseca in action on the practice court on Sunday in Jeddah. Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour.
Van Assche, Fonseca, Mensik, Shang and Basavareddy, as well as Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien, will find out their group-stage opponents when the draw takes place on Sunday from 8 p.m. local time (6 p.m. CET/12 p.m. ET).
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