NextGen ATP Finals to start in Jeddah
The NextGen ATP Finals, a premier tennis championship for professional players, begins today in Jeddah, SPA reports.
Hosted by the Saudi Tennis Federation in collaboration with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the event is held under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport and sponsored by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Matches will take place at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah through December 22.
The championship will feature eight of the world’s most promising tennis talents, all aged 21 and under, competing for the title and a share of the $2.5 million prize pool.
The players are divided into two groups: the Blue Group and the Red Group. The Blue Group includes Arthur Fils (France), Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic), Lerner Tien (USA), and Joao Fonseca (Brazil). The Red Group comprises Alex Michelsen (USA), Shang Juncheng (China), Luca Van Assche (France), and Nishesh Basavareddy (USA).
From December 18 to 20, group stage matches will follow a round-robin format. Matches will commence daily at 2:00 p.m. with the first match, followed by subsequent matches at 3:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and a final match to conclude the day.
Each player will compete in three matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals. On December 21, the group winners and runners-up will face off, paving the way for the championship final on Sunday, December 22.
The NextGen ATP Finals features an updated format designed to enhance the pace of play. Sets will be played to four games instead of the usual six, with a tie-break introduced if the score reaches 3-3. To further accelerate the matches, the time between points has been shortened to 15 seconds when rallies consist of three strokes or fewer, down from the traditional 25 seconds. Additionally, spectators will be allowed to move freely within the stadium during play, except for designated restricted areas.
Earlier, it was reported that Kazakh tennis players lost their spots in ATP Singles and Doubles Rankings.
