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The Next Gen ATP Finals will take place in Jeddah from December 17 to 21, 2025, at King Abdullah Sports City, the year-end event showcasing the best 20-and-under men’s players. This super exciting 5-day event is now the event that has bridged the gap between juniors and tour-level stardom. With the Race to Jeddah heating up, there is plenty to follow as the top 8 youngsters go to battle for the coveted berths.
How qualification works
It is easy to qualify on paper, but very tough in practice: the top eight players in the PIF ATP Live Race to Jeddah, provided they were born in 2005 or later, will qualify for the Next Gen Finals. The ATP announces the “Race to Jeddah,” which ranks only eligible and age-qualified players by way of points accumulated across the season; every Challenger deep run, ATP breakthrough and Grand Slam upset can shift the leaderboard.
The early front-runners
Throughout the season, certain names have emerged as plausible qualifiers.
· Jakub Menšík (CZE) – The 2005-born Czech has punched well above his years in 2025, rising into the top 20 on the ATP Tour thanks to big wins and a first Masters-level title. He is a natural Next Gen favourite because of his tallness, power, while also being relatively experienced at tour level.
· João Fonseca (BRA) – The recurring champion of the Next Gen seems to have continued his rise to stardom in 2025 while adding ATP titles to his name with some high-profile victories too. Given how quickly Fonseca has risen through the ranks and his past success at the event, he is expected to qualify and also a name to watch in Jeddah should he make it.
· Learner Tien (USA) – He is crafty and left-handed, and is already a spoiler at bigger events. The impressive results of Tien at Grand Slam events and his steady rise mean he is close to the top. One of the American hopefuls fighting for the final qualification places is expected to be him. You can check out the Wincomparator website, where you can find best tennis predictions for all tennis events taking place across the globe.
During the year, ATP and Next Gen updates put out names like Menšík and Fonseca at the head of the leaderboard at various points, but remember more than anybody how volatile the Race is. A teenager who performs well at an ATP 250, 500, or even a Grand Slam will see the leaderboard change in a matter of weeks.
Dark horses and wildcard storylines
The Next Gen event has always seen a surprise qualifier or two; young players who get hot at the end of the season and crash the top eight. Keep an eye on.
· New Champion kings with two or three wins obtained at the end of the season.
· Younger players coming back from injury who put points on the board quickly in a compressed calendar.
· Whether the players are national favourites or local crowd-pleasers, the Next Gen format has often welcomed substitutes who then use the platform to declare themselves.
The event rewards players when they break through so the who is on course picture in November could look very different by the middle of December.
The Next Gen Finals is not only a tournament, but an innovation lab in its own right. Prepare for exciting matches, new technologies, and an electric atmosphere at the King Abdullah Sports City. On court, look for those who can serve the ball powerfully enough to close out the point quickly. Those who are more agile and retrieve balls well to make the rally longer and force errors.
Many Next Gen players come to a Slam with one or two big wins, but not as much experience in managing the seven-to-ten-match pressure of a finals week. The quickest adapter often goes deep.
The event is crafted to put the sport on display, be it quick warm-ups, in-arena innovation, or presentation geared towards the fans, which often brings different tactics out from players.
Apart from the trophies and the money, this tournament serves as a barometer on the near future of this sport. The previous Next Gen alumni have become Slam contenders and mainstays in the top-10. For tennis scouts, sponsors and serious fans it’s the best concentrated slice of this next wave. In Jeddah, players are under pressure and on a platform. If you win, the narrative of your season changes overnight.
Stay tuned to the Race
With the dates set and the host confirmed (Jeddah), the tale between now and December is about momentum. Check out the PIF Race to Jeddah leaderboard, watch results from the year-end ATP events, and expect at least one surprise name to push into the top 8. If you care about the future of men’s tennis, this countdown is just where the springboard begins.