The 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals are taking place a bit later in the year, but they’re the perfect close to the season for some of the youngest tennis stars out there. Let’s take a closer look at what might happen this year.
Next Gen ATP Finals participants
There are a couple of rules on how players qualify, mostly based on performance and age. To play at the event, players need to be 20 years old or under. Then, the top eight players in the rankings are selected to compete. Here’s who will be vying for the title in 2024:
Arthur Fils (No 20)
The first player on this list is arguably the most seasoned one, as Arthur Fils has been playing on the ATP Tour for a while. He’s an ATP 500 champion, has won three titles already on Tour, and participated in the event last year. He’s also the top seed, so much is expected from the Frenchman. Want more bio and info on what racquet Fils is using?
Alex Michelsen (No 42)
Another player who participated in this event last year is Alex Michelsen. The American is back this year to try and claim the trophy. He’s ranked in the top 50 and has been performing really well on the ATP Tour in 2024. This will be the perfect start for him to get some competitive tennis ahead of the Australian summer.
Jakub Mensik (No 48)
One of the most electric young tennis players out there with a massive serve and huge forehand will show off those skills in Jeddah for the first time. Mensik wasn’t at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2023, but after a breakout season in 2024, deserves his spot at the event as one of the brightest young stars of the sport.
Jungcheng Shang (No 50)
Another super talented player who hails from China, Shang will try to prove himself among his peers. He’s a superbly talented, aggressive lefty who plays his best tennis on hard courts and has a breakout season behind him that included a trophy won on native soil in Chengdu.
Lerner Tien (No 123)
A rather unfamiliar name for most tennis fans is Tien, who has mostly spent time on the Challenger Tour in the US. There, he dominated, winning over 50 matches and a couple of trophies. As a lefty who has got a lot to prove, this is a great chance for him to showcase his skills on the biggest stage.
Luca van Assche (No 128)
Another player who has plenty of experience on the ATP Tour, having played on it for a while, Van Assche will look to use that experience to his advantage and try to score a big result. He’s an interesting prototype of a player because he doesn’t play the hyper-aggressive style which the younger generations are known for, but he’s very crafty and smart.
Nishesh Basavareddy (No 139)
Another US player who made most of his money on the Challenger Tour, Basavareddy finished the year strongly with a couple of title runs. He hasn’t got much experience among the professionals, but this should be a motivating factor for him as he’s known as a great worker.
Joao Fonseca (No 145)
The final name on this list is a player who has a lot of hype around him. He’s one of the youngest players in the competition but he’s played a lot on the ATP Tour and has a massive forehand and a good serve. Fonseca is one to watch because he could easily win this if he finds his best tennis and plays the way he can.
Next Gen ATP Finals predictions
So, for all of you betting on the Next Gen Finals, here are some of our predictions for this year.
Fonseca to win
This one might be somewhat controversial, but if you watched Fonseca play, you can certainly see why he could win this event. The forehand is amazing, the serve is really good, and he’s generally super motivated as a player. He will be far more motivated than someone like Fils, who mailed in the competition last year.
Fils not to win
Arthur Fils might be the highest-ranked player in the event and probably the best player in the event, but he won’t win it. He is very likely to treat this as a preseason and not play his best tennis because that’s just what he did last year. There are plenty of players who will take this more seriously than he will and that’s why he won’t win. After all, it’s all about motivation.
Mensik to make the final
Jakub Mensik is the prototype of a player who could do well here. Last year’s champion, Hamad Medjedovic, plays very similarly to Mensik and he won the event last year. If Mensik can find his best serve and hit the forehand at a high level, he will certainly be one of the players that make a good run here and a final is not out of the question.
Head over to our betting section if you’re looking to place a wager on the Next Gen Finals.
