Day 3 Preview: Tien vs. Budkov Kjaer headlines dramatic RR finale in Jeddah
Published: Dec 18, 2025
Arthur Jones
Writer
Spaniards Landaluce & Jodar feature in the Blue Group, while Basavareddy vs. Engel and Blockx vs. Prizmic take centre stage in the Red Group.
Three semi-final places remain available on Friday, the concluding day of round-robin play at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in Jeddah.
Alexander Blockx sits atop the Red Group and is the only player to have already secured qualification, while Nicolai Budkov Kjaer stands at 2-0 in the Blue Group. Last year’s finalist Learner Tien will aim to break the Norwegian’s momentum when the two meet in the final match of the day, following the first tour-level clash between close friends Martin Landaluce and Rafael Jodar.
Action in the Red Group begins with Nishesh Basavareddy against Justin Engel, before Blockx takes on Dino Prizmic.
Learner Tien (USA) vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer (NOR) [second match from 7 p.m.]
Budkov Kjaer has looked unstoppable so far, topping the Blue Group with a 2-0 record, but Tien will be confident of stopping the Norwegian’s surge. The World No. 28 and only Top 100 player in the field, Tien has yet to find his best level — having let slip four match points in an error-strewn loss to Jodar — although he showed signs of revival with a four-set comeback win over Landaluce.
Budkov Kjaer has looked unstoppable so far, topping the Blue Group with a 2-0 record, but Tien will be confident of stopping the Norwegian’s surge. The World No. 28 and only Top 100 player in the field, Tien has yet to find his best level — having let slip four match points in an error-strewn loss to Jodar — although he showed signs of revival with a four-set comeback win over Landaluce.
The 2024 finalist understands what it takes to succeed in Jeddah, but faces a tough challenge against Budkov Kjaer, who has dominated rivals with his baseline power and consistency. The 19-year-old, who owns a tour-leading four Challenger titles this season, will be targeting a perfect 3-0 group record and a place in history as the first Norwegian to reach the semi-finals at the event.
Martin Landaluce (ESP) vs Rafael Jodar (ESP) [not before 7 p.m.]
Long-time friends Landaluce and Jodar will put familiarity aside for a highly anticipated showdown, with both newcomers needing a win to stay in contention for the semi-finals. The Madrid pair have competed together since the age of nine, but only one can keep his 2025 campaign alive.
Long-time friends Landaluce and Jodar will put familiarity aside for a highly anticipated showdown, with both newcomers needing a win to stay in contention for the semi-finals. The Madrid pair have competed together since the age of nine, but only one can keep his 2025 campaign alive.
Landaluce has found it difficult to impose his attacking game so far and comes in at 0-2, and he could be challenged by Jodar’s high-risk, high-reward style. Jodar saved four match points to claim the biggest victory of his career against Tien earlier in the week, but also committed 34 unforced errors in his loss to Budkov Kjaer — an issue he will need to control in what promises to be a tense encounter.
Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) vs Justin Engel (GER) [not before 2 p.m.]
Making his second straight appearance in Jeddah, Basavareddy is hoping to better last year’s 1-2 record and push into the semi-finals. Joined this week by new coach Gilles Cervara, the American will be eager to rebound from his three-set defeat to Blockx. The 20-year-old currently holds a 1-1 record.
Making his second straight appearance in Jeddah, Basavareddy is hoping to better last year’s 1-2 record and push into the semi-finals. Joined this week by new coach Gilles Cervara, the American will be eager to rebound from his three-set defeat to Blockx. The 20-year-old currently holds a 1-1 record.
On the other side, 18-year-old Engel, the youngest competitor in the draw, is searching for his first victory in his debut outing. The German has dropped two four-set matches but has displayed plenty of baseline firepower, which he will look to unleash against Basavareddy. In June, Engel became the second-youngest player since 1990 to record tour-level wins on hard, clay, and grass (excluding Davis Cup), with only Rafael Nadal achieving the milestone at a younger age. He later became the youngest ATP Challenger champion of 2025 with his October title in Hamburg.
Alexander Blockx (BEL) vs Dino Prizmic (CRO) [second match from 2 p.m.]
Blockx has highlighted his clutch ability this week, compiling a 2-0 record in the Red Group, including two tight tie-break victories over Basavareddy on Thursday. The 20-year-old saved three set points in the second-set tie-break alone. Backed by a powerful serve and heavy baseline game, Blockx has defended 12 of the 13 break points he has faced across two matches, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Blockx has highlighted his clutch ability this week, compiling a 2-0 record in the Red Group, including two tight tie-break victories over Basavareddy on Thursday. The 20-year-old saved three set points in the second-set tie-break alone. Backed by a powerful serve and heavy baseline game, Blockx has defended 12 of the 13 break points he has faced across two matches, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Already the first Belgian to reach the semi-finals in the tournament’s eight-year history, Blockx will now focus on avenging his February defeat to Prizmic, who beat him 6-3, 6-2 at an indoor hard-court ATP Challenger event in Lugano. Prizmic secured his first win of the week on Thursday against Engel to move to 1-1 in round-robin play.
