ATP Next Gen Finals aka Jeddah

[jimlosaltos]

The mind boggles:

Per @thetennisletter.bsky.social
Jakub Mensik was asked to do an anti-doping test DURING his match against Arthur Fils at Next Gen ATP Finals.
Not before… not after… but right in the middle of it. I’m at a total loss for words.

[stroke]

Fonseca's forehand is certainly one of the best out there, and his backhand is also very good, no need to run around and give up court position it to hit forehands.

[jimlosaltos]

Our pick to watch Joao Fonseca just came from behind to defeat defending finalist Arthur Fils in five mini-sets. Here's a 12 sec vid clip with a near-facial: Gotcha! Fils knocked down by Fonseca's power in Jeddah

[stroke]

Fonseca looked great in beating Fils. He looks like he could very well be in the conversation at RG.

[jimlosaltos]

Well, that didn't take long to happen!

American Learner Tien upset Jakub Mensik but it took 5 of the NexGen abbreviated sets and an 8-6 tiebreak in the fifth.

Alex Michelson bested Nishesh Vasvareddy, another American in 4 sets.

Luca Va Assche downed Juncheng Shang in 5

As I type our pick to watch Joao Fonseca has split sets with the top see Arthur Fils, and is up a break in the third.

[stroke]

https://open.substack.com/pub/hughclarke/p/2024-wrap?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1t7zzc

[jimlosaltos]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UhFyfrUmhKH1En4j9

Fils atop Blue, Alex atop Red

filedata/fetch?id=106159&d=1734371505&type=thumb

filedata/fetch?id=106160&d=1734371505&type=thumb

#

[stroke]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UhFyfrUmhKH1En4j9

[jimlosaltos]

The ponderously-named Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. starts this Wednesday, featuring the world's top eight 20-and-under singles players in round robin competition, with single elimination semis. There is $2,050,000 in prize money and 15 matches. It will be shown in the US on Tennis Channel, and streamed on TennisTV.

The schedule and scores will be found at this link.

This can be a fun event in several ways. First, I like seeing new players. This year, I'm most interested in seeing 18 yo Joao Fonseca, the youngest and last to qualify. You might recall discussing here early in the year on how Fonseca upset Arthur Fils in Rio. Joao didn't just beat Fils, per Wiki "Excluding the Davis Cup, he became the first South American to claim an opening set 6-0 against a top 50 ranked opponent before turning 18, since the ATP rankings were first published in 1973." Joao's got game. I also like Juncheng "Jerry" Shang, who has infectious enthusiasm, and have never seen another American Nishesh Basavareddy. Fils was a finalist last year, and is top seed after Hamad Medjedovic aged out.

Seeding

1. Arthur Files
2. Arthur Michelsen
3. Jakub Mensik
4. Juncheng Shang
5. Learner Tien
6. Luca Van Assche
7. Nishesh Basavareddy
8. Joao Fonseca

[jimlosaltos]

Jo?o Fonseca gets the final spot.

Jo?o will be one of the most interesting players to me. He's only 18 yo, but early this year, as a 17 yo, he beat Arthur Fils, last year's inflict in Jeddah, at the Rio Open.

I believe last year's winner, Serbian Hamad Međedović, as "aged out" at 21.

Here's a profile of Fonseca.

[jimlosaltos]

This year's Next Gen Finals are Dec 18-22 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It's hard for me to believe they still don't have all 8 slots set, at this late date.
Brazilian 18 yo Jo?o Fonseca, has a slight lead for the final spot over Martin Landaluce.

Several of these players are new to me, two of the recent qualifiers are Americans: Learner Tien, and Nishesh Basavareddy.
Frenchman Fils was a finalist last year. Player profiles are at this link.

So far we have:

Arthur Fils
Alex Michelsen
Jakub Mensik
Shang Juncheng
Learner Tien
Luca Van Assche
Nishesh Basavareddy
8. ?????