Sports
ATP Next Gen Finals: Who is in the race to Jeddah? And how will the event evolve?
This article is part of The Next Generation series. As the greats, such as Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal become the past, and Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek handle the present, The Athletic explores the next generation: the rising stars who will be tasked with securing tennis’ future.
Over the last seven years the ATP Next Gen Finals has established itself on the tennis calendar. There was a lot of excitement when it began in 2017 in Milan, as a way of showcasing the eight best players aged 21 and under from the season just gone, while trialling different rules and innovations that might then graduate to the main ATP Tour.
The tournament was the first to use electronic line calling and a video review system, while the scoring system is unique — five sets of first to four games, with a tiebreak at 3-3 in each set. The idea is to have fewer games with less at stake, and more games at the “business end” of sets.
The rules have been slightly tweaked for 2024, with the age cut-off now 20 instead of 21, in recognition of the fact that players like Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune have made their breakthroughs earlier than was typical at the tournament’s inception. When the Finals started in 2017, with the Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic still so dominant, it was rarer for players to make their mark when aged 21 or under.
This year’s event also has a different time slot, moving from early December last year to December 18-22 — meaning it will act almost as a pre-season event for 2025 (with the first events of next year’s season starting on December 27 and December 30). As with last year, the tournament will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
For now, the eight qualifiers remain unknown, but several players are already in a strong position. More broadly, the ATP Next Gen Finals is approaching an inflection point. In the slow absence of the Big Three, whether through retirement or the loosening of their grip on the sport’s biggest prizes, how the event will evolve — and the nature of its role within the tennis ecosystem — are both up for debate. And outside of men’s tennis, how likely is an equivalent event on the women’s side, and where might that happen?
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Starting with the question around who will qualify, the man comfortably leading the race to Jeddah is the hugely talented Frenchman, Arthur Fils. The 20-year-old has perhaps not exploded quite as quickly as some expected, but it’s still been a year that has seen him reach the Wimbledon fourth round, and win his first 500-level ATP event — beating Alexander Zverev in the German’s home country in a tense Hamburg final two months ago.
Arthur Fils serving at Wimbledon. (Glyn Kirk / AFP via Getty Images)
Next in the race is America’s Alex Michelsen, who was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the U.S. Open second round last month. The 20-year-old Californian is up to a career-high ranking of No. 47 after a hugely promising summer in which he reached the finals in both Newport, Rhode Island, and Winston-Salem, N.C., as well as the quarters at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.
Coming up behind them are Shang Juncheng (19, from China), Jakub Mensik (19, from the Czech Republic) and Luca Van Assche (20, from France). All three of those players have reached Grand Slam third rounds this year. Shang, known as Jerry, and Mensik are ranked inside the world’s top 70 and are pretty safe bets to make Jeddah, while Van Assche is just outside the world’s top 100.
Below him come the three players currently in the qualification spots, separated by just 79 points. They are Joao Fonseca of Brazil (18), the American, Learner Tien (18), and Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas (19). Fonseca and Tien have each garnered plenty of attention in 2024 for eye-catching results in Rio and Winston-Salem respectively. Earlier in the year, Tien put together a 28-match winning streak between May and July, earning a wildcard for the U.S. Open in the process.
Joao Fonseca celebrating during a Davis Cup victory this month. (Emmanuele Ciancaglini / Getty Images for ITF)
The players closest to pinching one of the last qualification spots are Portugal’s Henrique Rocha and Coleman Wong of Hong Kong (both 20). They are only 21 and 31 points respectively behind Gaubas.
Race to Jeddah | 2024’s best youngsters
|
Player
|
Age
|
Points
|
|---|---|---|
|
1. Arthur Fils (France) |
20 |
1615 |
|
2. Alex Michelsen (USA) |
20 |
1016 |
|
3. Juncheng Shang (China) |
19 |
820 |
|
4. Jakub Mensik (Czech Republic) |
19 |
770 |
|
5. Luca Van Assche (France) |
20 |
425 |
|
6. Joao Fonseca (Brazil) |
18 |
365 |
|
7. Learner Tien (USA) |
18 |
318 |
|
8. Vilius Gaubas (Lithuania) |
19 |
286 |
|
9. Coleman Wong (Hong Kong) |
20 |
280 |
|
10. Henrique Rocha (Portugal) |
20 |
265 |
Had 21-year-olds still been eligible then another exciting Frenchman, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and Luca Nardi, who beat Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells earlier this year, would be in the qualification spots. As would America’s Zachary Svajda.
Even if those 21-years-olds were eligible, it still wouldn’t be a stellar lineup compared to the first edition, say, which in 2017 included Andrey Rublev, Denis Shapovalov, Daniil Medvedev and Borna Coric — all youngsters who had quite a bit of buzz around them. Likewise the two alternates Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe.
In general, it’s been an event that has been a good indicator of future success. The winners of the Next Gen Finals have been Chung Hyeon, Tsitsipas, Sinner, Alcaraz, Brandon Nakashima and Hamad Medjedovic. Of those first four, two are multiple Grand Slam winners and future world No. 1s, one is a two-time major finalist, and even Chung has an Australian Open semifinal to his name despite a horrific run of injuries since his Next Gen title. Earlier this month a video from the 2019 event did the rounds, with Sinner alongside Tiafoe and Alex de Minaur, ahead of all three of them competing in the U.S. Open quarterfinals. Tiafoe made the semis; Sinner won the whole thing.
The ATP has been pleased with how the event has given young players exposure, with solid attendances in Milan when it was hosted there between 2017 and 2022. Unsurprisingly, Jeddah was more of a challenge last year.
The idea of a Next Gen has become a well-established concept in men’s tennis, and having an annual event is a way of solidifying that. The different scoring system, singles-only court, and innovations like headsets for the players to talk with their coaches give the finals a distinctive feel. The impressive list of former winners (and runners up like Rublev, De Minaur and Sebastian Korda) gives it credibility. And as long as players are progressing from the Next Gen Finals to the top echelons of the sport, and not leaping straight past the event to that stratosphere, the ATP considers it to have a worthwhile spot in the calendar.
There have been discussions about having such an event on the WTA Tour in Saudi Arabia, The Athletic has been told by well-placed sources who wish to remain anonymous to protect relationships, but nothing has been confirmed (and there certainly won’t be an event this year). In November, the WTA Finals will be hosted in the Saudi capital of Riyadh for the first of three editions there.
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Should a Next Gen-type event happen, the WTA would have to make a decision on what the age cutoff should be. Typically WTA players have broken through quicker than ATP ones in part because generally women mature physically before men. As it stands though, there are currently only 11 players who are aged 21 and under in the top 100 (nine on the men’s side) and six players under 20 (four on the men’s side).
So an event for either age group would work fine without having to make it too young an age bracket which might feel like too much pressure too soon. That said, Coco Gauff would obviously skip a Next Gen-style event as she would qualify for the main WTA Finals.
The top 20 and under WTA players in 2024
|
Player
|
Age
|
Points
|
|---|---|---|
|
1. Coco Gauff (USA) |
20 |
3968 |
|
2. Diana Shnaider (Russia) |
20 |
2156 |
|
3. Mirra Andreeva (Russia) |
17 |
1973 |
|
4. Linda Noskova (Czech Republic) |
19 |
1913 |
|
5. Ashlyn Krueger (USA) |
20 |
900 |
|
6. Erika Andreeva (Russia) |
20 |
625 |
|
7. Robin Montgomery (USA) |
20 |
469 |
|
8. Maria Timofeeva (Russia) |
20 |
456 |
|
9. Brenda Fruhvirtova (Czech Republic) |
17 |
368 |
|
10. Marina Stakusic (Canada) |
19 |
352 |
The WTA does also have some history with putting on this kind of event. Between 2014 and 2018, there were five editions of the Future Stars event, which showcased some of the best young talent in the game. These though were done by region and by invitation. In 2015, ahead of the WTA finals in Singapore, there were four 23-or-under players selected to take part. The parameters were that two of the players had to be from Asia-Pacific and the others had to be from the rest of the world. Nine years on, the selection has aged extremely well, with the quartet made up of Naomi Osaka, Zhu Lin, Caroline Garcia and Ons Jabeur. Osaka, who had just turned 18, won the event.
Naomi Osaka went on to win four major titles by the age of 23. (Clive Brunskill / Getty Images)
A modern-day equivalent would likely generate plenty of excitement, as it has done intermittently for the men’s event. Especially when genuine future stars like Alcaraz have been involved.
The Next Generation series is part of a partnership with CHANEL.
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Top photo: Fiona Goodall / Getty Images)
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The New England Patriots defended home turf in the Wild Card Round, dominating the Los Angeles Chargers in a 16-3 victory to move on in the NFL Playoffs.
New England, winning its first playoff game since their 2018 Super Bowl-winning campaign, will await the victor of the No. 4 Houston Texans and No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers Wild Card game on Monday night to see who they face in the Divisional Round next week.
This game saw its first touchdown in the fourth quarter, but that was because of how suffocating both defenses were in this contest. But it was clear the Patriots had every answer for Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense.
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Drake Maye of the New England Patriots celebrates after a touchdown in the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Mike Vrabel’s squad shouldn’t have given up only three points, especially after Drake Maye was picked off on the Patriots’ second drive at his own 10-yard line. However, the Patriots’ defense was relentless all night, and the Chargers couldn’t adjust.
They stopped the Chargers on four plays to turn them over on downs, and ultimately got on the board first thanks to a 93-yard drive that resulted in a field goal.
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Los Angeles was knocking at the door again with a third-and-2 from New England’s three-yard line, but Kimani Vidal was stuffed. Cameron Dicker added a field goal to tie the game, and only another Patriots field goal was added to the score before halftime, a 6-3 lead for New England.
While the Chargers couldn’t get anything going on offense, their defense kept them in this game, at least for the first three quarters. Maye was strip-sacked by Odafe Oweh while in Chargers territory to keep it a three-point game in the third quarter.
But after another failed drive, a third Patriots field goal split the uprights to make it 9-3.
Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots talks to teammates in a huddle prior to an AFC wild card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
The dagger for the Patriots came after yet another Chargers punt, when Maye placed his pass perfectly for tight end Hunter Henry, the ex-Chargers star, for a 28-yard touchdown. The first six-pointer for either team seemingly ended all hopes for Los Angeles.
On the ensuing drive, Herbert was crushed by K’Lavon Chaisson, resulting in a fumble recovered by Christian Elliss, as the Gillette Stadium crowd went ballistic.
The Chargers tried to get some playoff heroics going, as they dinked and dunked their way down the field into Patriots territory. But on fourth-and-9 from New England’s 34-yard line, Milton Williams ended all hope when he delivered the Patriots’ sixth sack on Herbert to turn them over on downs again.
In the box score, Maye went 17-of-29 through the air for 268 yards, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson being his top receiver with 75 yards on three catches. Kayshon Boutte also added 66 yards on four grabs, while Henry finished with 64 yards.
Drake Maye of the New England Patriots looks to pass prior to an NFL wild card playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
And Maye was also the Patriots’ leading rusher with 67 yards on the ground on nine carries, as he continuously picked his spots to gash the Chargers’ defense.
For Los Angeles, Herbert’s playoff woes continue, as he’s now 0-3 after this performance. He had just 159 yards passing and 57 yards rushing.
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The MVP chants for the second-year quarterback of the New England Patriots rang throughout Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.
The Chargers, meanwhile, were haunted by their own echoes.
Another playoff game. Another one-and-done exit.
The gutty season of quarterback Justin Herbert again ended with a whimper, a 16-3 loss on a night when the Chargers defense provided ample opportunities.
“We have to do better than three points,” Herbert said. “As an offense, that’s not good enough. The quarterback play wasn’t good enough, and we let the defense down today.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings in the fourth quarter Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Three years ago was the nuclear meltdown at Jacksonville, when the Chargers blew a 27-0 lead to lose, 31-30.
Last year, the first under coach Jim Harbaugh, Herbert was picked off four times at Houston after making it through the regular season with just three interceptions.
Now, the Chargers have all offseason to ponder the fiasco at Foxborough, when they generated one field goal, 207 yards and converted one of 10 third downs.
The cover-your-eyes postseason scorecard under Harbaugh: Two games, 15 points on three field goals, one touchdown and a failed conversion.
Asked after the New England loss if the impending offseason changes could include changing out offensive coordinator Greg Roman, Harbaugh was notably noncommittal.
“Right now I don’t have the answers,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to look at that.”
The juxtaposition between the Chargers and Patriots is stark. The Chargers are precisely where they were a year ago, groping for answers about how to win a postseason game.
The Patriots won just four games last season but bumped that to 14 this year — one of three teams in NFL history to improve by at least 10 games in 12 months — and now advance to play host to Monday night’s winner between Houston and Pittsburgh.
As good as Herbert was all season — particularly playing behind a patchwork offensive line and with a broken left hand — he seemed lost in space Sunday, unable to connect with his receivers or establish anything close to an offensive rhythm.
Former Chargers tight end Hunter Henry catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for the Patriots. It was the game’s only touchdown.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
He threw for 120 yards and oversaw an offense whose possessions ended thusly: punt, turnover on downs, field goal, punt, end of half, punt, punt, punt, fumble, turnover on downs.
It’s not as if the Patriots were much better. The Chargers largely shut them down on offense, but New England was able to cobble together three field goals and a touchdown by tight end Hunter Henry, who, in a tormenting twist, began his career with the Chargers.
But Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was more calm and in command than Herbert despite two fumbles (one lost) and an interception on a pass that was batted at the line of scrimmage.
“Credit to Drake Maye,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said. “Every time we got to him, he got back up. Every time his team needed a play today, he used his legs.”
In fact, the quarterbacks were the leading rushers, with Maye running for 66 yards and Herbert 57. The Patriots got 53 more from Rhamondre Stevenson, whereas the Chargers couldn’t mount anything of a true running game.
When teams win, they spend the offseason trying to keep their rosters together. When they lose, it’s back to the drawing board. The Chargers are in the latter category.
In a locker room so quiet you could hear a dream drop, linebacker Daiyan Henley said Harbaugh thanked his players after the game.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is slow to get up after being sacked in the fourth quarter against the Patriots on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“There was a lot of confidence going into this game,” Henley said. “I think the feeling and vibe you’re getting in this locker room right now is that it’s over and that this team is going to change. Everybody is aware that our defense is going to surely change.
“When you have a core group of guys like this, everybody holds a lot of pride in what we do. So to know that we lost and the season is over and this locker room is going to change — and upstairs may change — it hurts more.”
Henley said Harbaugh thanked his players after the game, especially for the way they fought all season despite the various hurdles in their path.
“It sucks because this is how the season ends, so when you talk about processing a loss like this, the process lasts longer,” Henley said.
“You go out on a loss, I’ll be thinking about it until I can go out and get my next win.”
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The Green Bay Packers’ playoff exit on Saturday immediately put added focus on what the organization will do with head coach Matt LaFleur.
The NFL coaching cycle has been the wildest in recent memory, with veteran coaches like John Harbaugh and Pete Carroll being shown the door. Packers fans seemingly put LaFleur on the hot seat following their crushing defeat to the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reacts during the wild-card playoff game against the Bears Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Sunday that the Packers will have a major decision to make.
“The Green Bay Packers and their new president, Ed Policy, have a significant decision to make here in the coming days – and that is whether to extend Matt LaFleur’s contract. He’s currently got one year remaining, or to move on from him,” Schefter said. “If they moved on from him, he would automatically go near the top of coaches available and shakeup this current head-coaching cycle yet again.”
Schefter added that Harbaugh could be one of the names that would interest the Packers’ organization.
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur talks after the playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
“Notice how we said this belongs to the Packers’ president, Ed Policy. Well, the Packers’ former president from the back in the day was a man by the name of Bob Harlan,” Schefter explained. “Bob Harlan’s son, Brian Harlan, represents John Harbaugh. John Harbaugh is a Midwestern guy, who has a home in the Upper Peninsula, and a lot of people around the league have been wondering if the Packers decide to go in a different direction, if all of a sudden the Green Bay Packers might fall to the top of John Harbaugh’s list as the top available choice for him.
“This has been a wild, crazy coaching cycle, and we may be just scratching the surface.”
Green Bay Packers’ Matthew Golden celebrates his touchdown against the Bears Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
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Green Bay finished 9-7-1 this season. LaFleur is 76-40-1 as the Packers’ head coach with a 3-6 record in the playoffs.
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