The ATP Next Gen Finals are gearing up to hit the screens as the top young stars in tennis are set to go head-to-head in this fast-paced tournament. This marks the beginning of tennis’ debut in Saudi Arabia, with all the action set to unfold next week. Here at Tennishead, we’ve got all the details on how you can catch this innovative event.
The ATP Next Gen Finals may not award any ranking points, but it’s the official final tournament on the main ATP Tour calendar. This exhibition event has been a staple since its inception in 2017, featuring the top seven 21-and-under players from the year, along with a wildcard selected by the tournament organizers.
Famously held in Milan, Italy, the event made headlines this year after it was confirmed to be relocating to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Despite the eligibility of several players to compete this year, the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Holger Rune, Ben Shelton, and Lorenzo Musetti opted to skip the tournament in the Middle East. As a result, Arthur Fils emerges as the top seed, coming off a stellar season in which he secured his first ATP title in Lyon and achieved a career-high ranking of No. 36.
Fils will be joined by an exciting lineup of young talent including Luca Van Assche, Dominic Stricker, Alex Michelsen, Flavio Cobolli, Hamad Medjedovic, Luca Nardi, and Jordanian wildcard Abdullah Shelbayh. These rising stars will be divided into two round-robin groups of four, promising electrifying match-ups.
The ATP Next Gen Finals has always been a spectacle for tennis fans, known for its innovative rules such as playing sets to four games, employing a No-Ad system, and allowing free fan movement during matches. For fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the tournament can be viewed on Amazon Prime Video, while Tennis TV offers coverage worldwide. Interestingly, this will mark Amazon Prime Video’s final tennis coverage for the foreseeable future, with Sky Sports set to take over from 2024.
To find out how to watch the tournament in your location, head to the official ATP website for more information. With the event just around the corner, it’s one tennis spectacle that fans won’t want to miss.