The final event of the 2025 ATP calendar will be the Next Gen Finals, scheduled to take place from December 17 to 21 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The lineup for the tournament has now been confirmed, with eight of the Tour’s best under-20 players set to take center stage. The list soon sparked widespread discussion among fans; however, two inclusions, in particular, did not sit well with many online.
Fans Question Learner Tien and Jakub Menšík’s ‘Wild’ Addition to Next Gen ATP Finals
Several top young prospects have qualified for the event and will aim to make a statement at this early stage of their professional journeys. Two Spaniards, Rafael Jodar and Martín Landaluce, will compete at this year’s Next Gen ATP Finals, while four-time Challenger tour title winner Nicolai Budkov Kjær has also secured his place in the lineup.
Jakub Menšík enters this event as the highest-ranked player, currently sitting at World No. 19 in the ATP rankings. The Czech teenager compiled a 33–20 win–loss record in 2025 and capped his breakout year with his first Masters 1000 triumph in Miami, after ousting Novak Djokovic in the final.
Another major standout in the field is American teenager Learner Tien, who has already made his mark on the ATP Tour. The 19-year-old turned heads with his explosive all-court game and capped his breakthrough season by claiming his maiden title at the Moselle Open. Joining him in the lineup are fellow American Nishesh Basavareddy, Croatia’s Dino Prižmić, and Belgium’s Alexander Blockx.
The finalized lineup quickly drew attention across social media. Under the qualification criteria, the top eight players in the 2025 ATP Race to Jeddah earn places in the field, provided they are 20 or under by year’s end. One fan, however, urged the ATP also to introduce a ranking cutoff.
“Can there be a ranking cut off pls, this was set up to give younger players more recognition,” one fan said.
“Mensik and Tien are WILD for this one ????,” a fan said.
A fan believes Menšík and Tien are clear favorites and feels their absence would have created a more balanced field. It is worth noting that Tien also secured upsets over top players like Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev in 2025.
MORE: Next Gen ATP Finals Lineup Includes 1 Masters Champ, 2 Americans As Jakub Menšík, Learner Tien Headline
“Mensik & Tien are the favorites on paper for sure. Honestly would’ve preferred they didn’t play, that way we could’ve seen Sakamoto & Engel and it would’ve been a more even playing field. Still a good lineup though! 2 Spaniards ???????????? Landaluce & Jodar,” they wrote.
Another fan commented,“Mensik and Tien vulturing hard lmao.”
“Interesting to see names I don’t know & see how they play .????..could bring a surprise ???? ???? ????,” a fan wrote.
“idc who but someone needs to stop Learner Tien from winning this,” one chimed in.
With prior experience at the event, Menšík and Tien rightly stand out as the early favorites, having both competed at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals. Last year’s winner, Joao Fonseca, however, has withdrawn from the coveted event.