It’s been a few weeks since the season ended (and it’s less than two weeks until next season begins), so it’s the perfect time for the Next Gen ATP Finals. This is a unique event with its own format (best-of-five sets, to four games in a set), its own rules (no lets on serves, no-ad scoring), and no ranking points. But previous champions include Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Joao Fonseca. So while the players competing might not yet be household names, there’s a good chance they will be someday.
Next Gen ATP Finals Day 1 Predictions
Dino Prizmic vs Nishesh Basavareddy
The opening match of the event might honestly be the most promising. Both of these young men have found success on the main Tour before, and both look ready to make the jump to full-time contenders. Prizmic took a set off Djokovic at the 2024 Australian Open, and Basavareddy did the same at the 2025 edition. All in all, this should be a good battle, and I think the American has developed a bit faster.
Prediction: Basavareddy in 4
Alexander Blockx vs Justin Engel
This should be a fun one. Engel has far more upside and will likely be a force on Tour someday. That is, if he can find consistency. It’s the one thing he lacks in his game, but it’s something Blockx has in abundance. Ultimately, though, I think the shorter sets format favors the player who can be untouchable while redlining, even if it doesn’t last long.
Prediction: Engel in 5
Martin Landaluce vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer
Budkov Kjaer is certainly the least-seasoned of this year’s qualifiers for this event. He is near his career high ranking of #132, but he has done it almost entirely on the Challenger Tour. He has very few matches against elite competition. Not that many Next Gen stars have a ton, of course, but most have more than him. Maybe that will matter in higher-tension situations.
Prediction: Landaluce in 4
Learner Tien vs Rafael Jodar
Learner Tien is last year’s runner-up and a prohibitive favorite to win this event. Jodar is a rising talent, but he doesn’t have Tien’s consistency and court sense (yet).
Prediction: Tien in 3
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
