JEDDAH/WASHINGTON, December 19, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Needing a straight-sets win to reach the Next Gen ATP Finals semifinal round this weekend, No. 2 seed Alexander Blockx of Belgium did just that on Thursday afternoon. He took care of business with confidence and authority – and made a little history along the way, too.
In a battle of Day One winners, the 20-year-old Belgian made history by becoming the first from his country to clinch a berth in the 20-and-under event semifinal round. The 116th-ranked Blockx prevailed under pressure by defeating No. 167 Nishesh Basavareddy of the United States, 4-3 (2), 4-3 (8), 4-1, in one hour and 20 minutes. He won on his second match-point opportunity – and it was the first time he has strung together back-to-back tour-level victories in his nascent career.
Making history
Blockx brought his best to become the first Belgian ever to reach the semi-finals in Jeddah!@Emirates | #EmiratesFlyBetterMoments | #partner pic.twitter.com/1NgcpiY9sz
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025
Three years after their meeting at the US Open in juniors, won by Blockx, the 6-foot-4 native of Antwerp powered his way to victory by hitting 11 aces and 24 winners overall, saving nine of 10 break points and outpointing Basavareddy, who is making his second-consecutive appearance in Jeddah, 69-57.
A delighted Blockx admitted during his on-court interview, after securing his second-straight winning in the Red Group, that he knew a three-set win would wrap up a last four berth on Saturday.
“I knew about 20 minutes before the match. It appeared on the screen in the warmup room,” said Blockx, who combined nine solid service games with good defensive posture against Basavareddy, which contributed toward his American opponent committing 31 unforced errors. “I’m very happy with winning that second set. I barely got through. I think we both played a good tie-break. I just got luck on my side a bit at the end and I felt like in the third set, the energy on his side went a bit down and on mine, my energy went up. I’m very happy to be in the semifinals.”
Blockx’s box was pumped #NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/y2uMslk9aI
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025
After going 2-6 on the ATP Tour and compiled a 43-28 in all competitions this season, just how well is Blockx playing? “I will say that I am playing my best tennis. I’m playing very efficient, playing very good in the important moments,” he said. “So, I hope in my next match I can play the level I am playing in the important moments and also play well in the less-important moments, which will save me a bit more energy as well.”
Earlier, Croatia’s Dino Prizmic came into his Red Group match against 187th-ranked Justin Engel of Germany knowing it was a must-win situation. After losing his first round-robin match against sixth-seeded Basavareddy on Wednesday, the No. 3 seed Prizmic came out against the 18-year-old Engel knowing that another loss would virtually eliminate him from advancing out of the group and into Saturday’s semifinals.
The 128th-ranked Prizmic defeated the No. 8 seed Engel, 4-1, 2-4, 4-3 (3), 4-1, in an hour and 28 minutes. He won with a perfectly-placed backhand drop shot to put away the victory on his third match-point opportunity. It was his 18th overall winner, which offset 21 unforced errors. Although Engel struck 22 winners – including 11 from his forehand – he also made 34 unforced errors. Both players hit six aces. Prizmic outpointed his opponent 76-61.
Securing the W!
Prizmic claims a first win in Jeddah downing Engel 4-1 2-4 4-3(3) 4-1.#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/kRtmWJNO0S
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025
During his on-court interview, Prizmic was asked if Thursday felt like a must-win against Engel. “Yeah, of course. I want to stay and fight for the semifinals,” he said. “Today, of course, I had to win. I’m happy about my performance. I think I am getting better with every match. Today was a good match for me.”
The victory improved Prizmic to 1-1, while Engel fell to 0-2.
“I want to play a little bit more aggressive,” Prizmic said of his upcoming match against Blockx. “From yesterday [against Basavareddy], I am happy about my performance today [against Engel] and I think I am getting better. I want to stay focused and to play my best tennis.”
Perfection from Prizmic
#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/88ZCX94rWR— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025
Budkov Kjaer improves to 2-0 in Blue Group
Norway’s Nicolai Budkov Kjaer nearly clinched a semifinal berth Thursday evening. He would have done so with a straight-set win. Instead, the fifth-seeded Norwegian’s four-set win over the No. 7 seed Rafael Jodar of Spain kept him undefeated in the chase for the last four and Budkov Kjaer remained atop the Blue Group with a 2-0 win-loss record.
The 136th-ranked Budkov Kjaer defeated No. 168 Jodar, 4-1, 4-2, 1-4, 4-2, in an hour and 16 minutes. The victory avenged his loss to the popular Spaniard in the 2024 US Open junior boys’ final. He struck 12 winners – including seven aces – and converted all six of his break-point opportunities. Budkov Kjaer outpointed Jodar 63-57.
“I’m just trying to focus on winning the match, but of course, to be qualified is cool, so I hope it happens,” Budkov Kjaer said during his on-court interview. “I started off great. I mean, every shot I played went in, and Rafa was maybe a bit nervous from the start, which is totally normal, you know. It’s tough to play a match after a big win because it’s a lot of emotions that happens inside of your body. I know it well also. … I just tried to keep on going. I found my way back to my level. I’m very happy with the win of course.”
Celebration champion #NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/GaN52nDOzJ
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025
Jodar, who defeated top-seeded Learner Tien of the United States in his opening group stage match on Wednesday evening after saving four match points, was unable to sustain the momentum he built from his first win. Although he hit 20 winners – including 15 from his forehand side – he also committed 34 unforced errors, an indication of his high-risk, high-reward playing style. By the end, Budkov Kjaer wrapped up his second-straight win in Jeddah with a couple of service aces and an unreturnable serve.
On Friday, Budkov Kjaer will face Tien, who squandered four match points for the second consecutive evening before defeating No. 4 seed Martin Landaluce of Spain, 1-4, 4-1, 4-3 (4), 4-3 (2), in 91 minutes on his fifth match point.
The World No. 28 Tien (1-1) leveled his win-loss record, while Landaluce (0-2) is winless. Despite being unable to close out the victory ahead 3-1 (40-0) on his serve in the fourth set, Tien hit 18 winners – 12 of them forehand winners – and made 22 unforced errors. Landaluce produced four more winners than Tien but also committed 12 more unforced errors, too.
A big win for the top seed to keep his title dreams alive #NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/YBqNhTERfM
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025
“I’m not really sure what’s happening, if I’m being honest. I had match points and they just disappeared in front of my eyes. Luckily, today I was able to recover and finish [with a win],” Tien said during his on-court interview.
After losing last year’s final to Joao Fonseca of Brazil, Tien will need to defeat Budkov Kjaer to remain in the chase for making the weekend semifinals.
Around the Next Gen ATP Finals
Friday’s final day of the group stage is make or break for many of the players. The top two from each group advance to Saturday’s semifinals. There are three semifinal berths still up for grabs.
Round-robin play in the Blue Group will wrap up with an all-Spanish clash between longtime friends and foes Rafael Jodar (1-1) and Martin Landaluce (0-2), while last year’s finalist Learner Tien (1-1) will play Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (2-0), who could become the first Norwegian semifinalist in tournament history.
Meanwhile, round-robin play in the Red Group will conclude as Dino Prizmic (1-1) faces Alexander Blockx (2-0) and Justin Engel (0-2) takes on Nishesh Basavareddy (1-1), who hopes to improve on last year’s 1-2 record in group play with an outside chance of still advancing.
Blockx, who is already through to the semifinal round after winning his first two matches, said: “There is a lot of pressure off my shoulders now. So, I will just play freely and work on some specific things in my game. Dino is a very good player. He will be playing for his life. It’s going to be an interesting match.”
Thursday’s Next Gen ATP Finals results
Friday’s Next Gen ATP Finals order of play
By the numbers
Three of the four competitors in the Blue Group – Martin Landaluce, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and Rafael Jodar – won Grand Slam singles titles as juniors. Landaluce won the 2022 US Open, Budkov Kjaer garnered the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and Jodar was victorious at the 2024 US Open. Meanwhile, two of the four players in the Red Group – Alexander Blockx and Dino Prizmic are former junior champions. Blockx won the 2023 Australian Open and Prizmic won the 2023 French Open.
“Quotable …”
“I think having the experience is good to have in the bag, but it has been a year since we played this format, so there is still so adjustments to do. Each set is quick. … One break changes momentum completely.”
– No. 6 seed Nishesh Basavareddy of the United States, as quoted by the ATP Tour website after defeating Dino Prizmic of Croatia on Wednesday.
