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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An envoy for President Donald Trump has reportedly asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the 2026 World Cup this summer.
The Financial Times reported the plan is an effort to repair the relationship between Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which soured after the former’s comments against Pope Leo XIV regarding the war with Iran.
United States special envoy Paolo Zampolli suggested the idea to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
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President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025. (Emilee Chinn/FIFA)
“I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a U.S.-hosted tournament,” Zampolli told the outlet. “With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.
Italy had a chance to be in the World Cup already, but it lost in a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff final.
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Italy became the first World Cup-winning team to miss three consecutive tournaments after the 4-1 penalty shootout loss earlier this month.
“We still don’t believe it that we’re out and that it happened in this manner,” Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola told reporters at the time, according to the New York Post.
“It’s upsetting for everyone. For us, for our families and for all the kids who have never seen Italy at a World Cup.”
While Zampolli told Infantino about his proposed plan, FIFA’s president said Iran “for sure” will play in the World Cup despite the conflict involving the U.S.
Mehdi Taremi of Iran celebrates after scoring a goal during a 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Group A game against Uzbekistan at Azadi Stadium in Tehran March 25, 2025. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu)
“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” Infantino said during the CNBC Invest in America Forum earlier this month in Washington, D.C.
“We hope that, by then, of course, the situation will be a peaceful situation. That would definitely help. But Iran has to come, of course. They represent their people. They have qualified. The players want to play.”
Infantino visited the Iranian national team in Turkey, which is where it has its training camp.
All three of Iran’s group stage games are scheduled to be played in the U.S. That remains the case after Iranian government officials suggested to FIFA that their games be moved to Mexico because they could not travel to the U.S.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed FIFA’s rejection of Iran’s request, and it is insisting Iran play where it’s scheduled — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and Lumen Field in Seattle. Iran said earlier this month it would only decide on its team’s participation once it heard from FIFA regarding its relocation request.
Iran is scheduled to play at SoFi Stadium against New Zealand June 16 to begin its tournament. It will also play Belgium at the stadium before finishing group play against Mo Salah and Egypt in Seattle June 26.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends an international friendly between Mexico and Portugal at Banorte Stadium in Mexico City March 28, 2026. (Antonio Torres/FIFA/Getty Images)
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Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last month that Iran would be welcome to compete in the World Cup as scheduled, though it might not be “appropriate” considering the conflict.
“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety,” he wrote.
Trump also told Politico, “I really don’t care,” when asked about Iran’s participation in the tournament. Infantino, who has a strong relationship with Trump, said Trump has “reiterated” to him that the U.S. welcomes Iran’s team to compete.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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DENVER — Before Anze Kopitar left the ice after the final regular-season home game of his NHL career, he told the fans he was saying good-bye, not farewell.
He would return, he promised, in the playoffs.
He’ll make good on that pledge Thursday when his Kings and the Colorado Avalanche face off in Game 3 of their first-round series at Crypto.com Arena. But it could prove to be a short encore because after losing the first two games of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff in Denver, the Kings need a win Thursday or in Game 4 on Sunday to extend both their season and Kopitar’s Hall of Fame career.
The Kings’ — and Kopitar’s — last six playoff appearances have all ended after just one round. And they’re halfway to another first-round loss this year, though they probably deserve better after giving the league’s best team everything it could handle, only to lose twice by a goal, including a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 2 on Tuesday.
“To a man we’re playing hard,” interim Kings coach D.J. Smith said. “We hoped to split here, but regardless we’re gonna have to win at home. We’ve got to find a way to win a game.
“Clearly good isn’t enough.”
Kopitar announced his retirement before the start of this season, the 20th in his Hall of Fame career. And while many of his teammates talked of their desire to see their captain hoist the Stanley Cup one more time, just making the playoffs appeared beyond the Kings’ reach until the final two weeks of the regular season.
Colorado, meanwhile, led the league in everything, winning the most games, collecting the most points, scoring the most goals and allowing the fewest. The Kings? Not so much. They gave up 22 more goals than they scored, worst among playoff teams, and needed points in 11 of their last 13 games just to squeak into the postseason as the final wild-card team.
Colorado left wing Joel Kiviranta skates under pressure from Kings center Scott Laughton and goaltender Anton Forsberg during Game 2 of their first-round NHL playoff series Tuesday in Denver.
(Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)
Yet two games into this series, it’s been hard to tell the teams apart on the ice. The Kings have outhustled, outhit and outskated the Avalanche for long stretches. But those moral victories have been their only wins.
Asked if he can take solace for the way the team has played, goalie Anton Forsberg, who was outstanding in his first two career playoff games, stared straight ahead.
“No,” he said. “We wanted to go to home [with] a win.”
Forward Trevor Moore was a little more forgiving.
“We would have liked to steal one,” he said. “But you can’t look back. You have to look forward. Confidence-wise, we hung in there with them for two games and we’ve been competitive. I think we could have won either night.”
They won neither night, however, which leaves little margin for error in the next two games.
If the Kings lacked wins in Denver, they didn’t lack chances. On Tuesday they had a man advantage for nearly a quarter of the first 25 minutes and had five power plays and a penalty shot on the night.
When Quinton Byfield’s second-period penalty shot was stuffed by Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood, a group of Avalanche fans celebrated by pounding on the protective plexiglass behind the Kings’ bench with such force it shattered, raining shards down on the team’s coaches
“Whoever the guy [was] just kept pushing and pushing and pushing,” Smith said. “I looked back because it hit me a bunch of times, then it broke.”
The Kings couldn’t score on the power play either until Artemi Panarin finally found the back of the net with less than seven minutes left in regulation, giving the team its first lead of the series.
“We had every opportunity,” Smith said. “You’ve got to be able to close it out.”
They couldn’t. So when Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog evened the score 3 ½ minutes later, the teams headed to a fourth period.
The overtime was the 34th in 84 games for the Kings this season, an NHL record by some distance. But it ended in the team’s 21st overtime loss when Nicolas Roy banged home a rebound 7:44 into the extra period.
“We had some good looks. I thought we really had the momentum in overtime,” Smith said. “Maybe a bad bounce or a turnover, whatever, it ends up in your net. But to a man this team is playing hard and we’ve got to find a way to win.
“I expect that we’ll be better at home.”
If they aren’t, the Kings face another long summer and Kopitar’s retirement will start earlier than he had hoped.
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Austin Reaves nearing return for Lakers as Luka Doncic remains out indefinitely with hamstring strain: report
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In early April, with just five games remaining in the regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that star guard Luka Doncic would be sidelined at least until the NBA playoffs.
Doncic’s setback was a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, an MRI confirmed. The reigning NBA scoring champion sustained the injury during an April 2 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers also entered the playoffs without another key member of their backcourt, Austin Reaves.
The shorthanded Lakers upset the Houston Rockets in the opening game of their first-round Western Conference series Saturday. Ahead of Game 2 on Tuesday, the Lakers reportedly received a clearer update on the health of at least one of their injured stars.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves brings the ball up court against the Washington Wizards in Los Angeles on March 30, 2026. (Ryan Sun/AP)
Reaves, who was diagnosed with an oblique strain, appears to be progressing toward a return later in the first-round series if it extends to six or seven games. If the Lakers advance sooner, he could be on track to return for the Western Conference semifinals.
According to ESPN, Reaves recently returned to the practice court for 1-on-1 drills. The 27-year-old will still need to progress to 2-on-3 and then 5-on-5 work before he can be cleared for playoff action, but he appears significantly further along than Doncic, who remains out indefinitely.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Doncic is unlikely to play in the first round, regardless of the series length. ESPN footage showed him on the practice court on Tuesday, though the six-time All-Star was not doing high-intensity work.
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The Rockets, despite being widely favored in the opening round playoffs series, also contended with key injuries. Kevin Durant missed Game 1 with a knee contusion. He was cleared to play in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. shoots the ball against the Lakers during Game 1 in the NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on April 18, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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LeBron James scored 19 points, while Luke Kennard led Los Angeles with 27 in Saturday’s win.
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