While the NextGen ATP Finals is known for its innovations and analyzes and continues to highlight emerging young talent. Joao Fonseca, last year’s champion, won two ATP tour titles this season – a 250 and a 500 – and achieved a career high ranking of twenty-four. Although he qualified for this year’s edition in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he withdrew due to injury.
To say that this event is a launching pad for the gaming elite is a massive understatement. Two former champions have risen to the top of the rankings, including current World Champion #2Jannik Sinner, and the Ruling World #1Carlos Alcaraz.
Each addition of the season-ending championship for the top eight players 20 years and younger introduces new rules and regulations while maintaining a specific core, such as first-to-4best of five set score.
If each player wins three games, a game of first through seven will be played with a two-point tiebreaker. In addition, there is a No-Ad score where the server chooses the service box. For this edition, the new rules include a three-minute warm-up, changing balls every seven games and a maximum of eight seconds between the first and second serves.
Alexander Blockx from Belgium reached the penultimate round on his debut. The 20-year-old Antwerp native and second seed remained undefeated in the round robin stage with impressive victories over Justin Engel, Nishesh Basavareddy and Dino Prizmic. With two titles this season on the Challenger circuit, he achieved a career-high ranking of #101but currently stands at #116.
His opponent, Nicolai Budkov Kjær from Norway, also made waves this season. The nineteen-year-old from Oslo and fifth seed has won the most titles on the Challenger circuit (4), achieved a career-high ranking of #132 and is currently #136. While Blockx is the first Belgian to participate in this prestigious event, Kjaer is the first Norwegian to reach the semi-finals. He went 2-1 in the round robin stage with four-set wins over Spaniards Martin Landaluce and Rafa Jodar, in addition to a four-set loss to last year’s finalist Learner Tien.
This was their first tour level meeting. Blockx won the toss and chose to serve. He held love with two consecutive aces, while Kjaer hit one ace and held 15 to level. Blockx opened and closed the third with two aces while Kjaer missed 4/5 first serve not yet held 2-2.
Blockx missed 3/4 serves first, but is held to love 3-2 while Kjaer double-faulted and still held on 15 to force the breaker. Blockx raced to one 6-2 lead, ripping the forehand inside out and down the line, and clinched 7-4 when Kjaer overcooked a forehand.
The Norwegian served first in the second and although he faced four break points, he held three winners, including two consecutive aces, while Blockx opened with two formidable serves and held on 30 to level. Kjaer was 0-30 up but held two consecutive winners, including an overhead 30 for 2-1.
Blockx continued to dominate while serving and scoring 5/6including his fifth ace, and held 30 for parity. Kjaer made three unforced errors and dumped serve when his opponent smashed a forehand down the line. Blockx served for a two-set lead, lost focus and returned the peace with three unforced errors.
Kjaer served first in the breaker and was behind 3-5 before leveling 6-6, 7-7And 8-8. With two notable winners, Blockx secured the breaker and an impressive lead. The Belgian served first in the third and held on with two more aces 15 while Kjaer faced a triple break point and dropped serve when Blockx hit a running crosscourt forehand.
However, Blockx could not consolidate the break as Kjaer increased the aggression and picked out mistakes. Kjaer opened the fourth with a sharp backhand stab-volley winner and with an ace held wide 30 for 2-2. Blockx, just two games away from the title match, opened with three straight winners, including two aces, and held on 3-2 with a huge forehand down the line.
Kjaer, serving to stay in the match, lost one 24-shot rally with a netted forehand, and while hitting his fifth ace, he conceded the match when Blockx hit two consecutive winners from the ground.
It was an exciting, hard and competitive match. The Belgian finished with more winners than mistakes (28/23) went 10/10 net, and converted 3/7 breaking points. On Sunday he will compete against an American for the title: Learner Tien, last year’s finalist and world #28or Nishesh Basavareddy, whom he defeated in the round robin competition.
#Blockx #beats #Budkov #Kjaer #semifinal #NextGen #ATP #Finals