Scouting Report: Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen, Jakub Mensik headline field in Jeddah | ATP Tour

Inspection Report

Inspection Report: Fils, Michelsen, Mensik Topic Field in Jeddah

The ultimate summary of what every fan should know about the upcoming week

December 17, 2024

To draw the curtain on an exciting ATP Tour season, the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF will shine a light on the brightest stars in the 20 and under world, all kicking off in Jeddah on Wednesday.

Arthur Fils and American Alex Michelsen are back for the second consecutive year, with the Frenchman aiming to do one better than finishing second in 2023. ATP Newcomer of the Year Jakub Mensik, Shang Juncheng, Learner Tien, Nishesh Basavareddy and Joao Fonseca will make their debuts at the event, while sixth seed Luca Van Assche is back in Jeddah for the second consecutive year. after his semi-final in 2023.

Ahead of the inaugural event, ATPtour.com looks at five things to watch.

1) The title of the eyes of the Fearless Fils: Fils' dominant season, backed by two ATP 500 crowns in Hamburg and Tokyo, earned him the top player position in Jeddah for the second consecutive year. After losing in last year's final to Hamad Medjedovic, the number 20 player in the PIF ATP rankings is determined to go ahead and recall this year's title, but will he succeed?

2) Michelsen leads the American trio: Second-seeded Michelsen is back in Jeddah for the second consecutive season after reaching two more ATP Tour tournaments in 2024. The 20-year-old is joined by countrymen and friends Tien and Basavareddy, who have all known each other for the past 10 years. years. Second seed Michelsen opens against Basavareddy on Wednesday, who shared the spoils in two ATP Challenger events in 2023.

3) The Menacing Blue Group: Fils is joined in the formidable Blue Group by World No. 48 Mensik, three-time ATP Challenger Tour champion Tien and 18-year-old Fonseca. Top seed Fils will have his career cut from the start as he opens against Fonseca, who defeated the Frenchman 6-0, 6-4 en route to the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting..

4) The Shang flies the Chinese flag: Fourth seed Shang enjoyed a historic season on the ATP Tour, becoming the first Chinese player to win a title on home soil after a run in Chengdu. The 19-year-old has climbed into the World Top 50 and has now made his name as the first player from his country to compete in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

5) Jeddah is hosting for the second year: King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will host the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second consecutive year. The seventh edition of the event, featuring eight of the world's best players aged 20 and under, will begin on Wednesday, with all competitors in attendance. The round robin will run from Wednesday to Friday, with the semi-finals on Saturday. The title game will be played at 8 pm local time on Sunday.