Article by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF Alumni | ATP Tour

Next Gen ATP Finals

Sinner & Alcaraz headline The Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF alumni

Tsitsipas, Nakashima, Medjedovic among the champions

December 17, 2024

The seventh edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF continues on Wednesday in Jeddah, with eight of the world’s best players aged 20 and under competing for glory.

Aimed at showcasing the promising talent in the world of tennis, the innovation event served as a stepping stone for some of the sport’s brightest stars. Ahead of the tournament, ATPtour.com revisits six past champions and examines where they stand now.

2017 Hyeon Chung

Hyeon Chung took the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF by storm with his unbeaten run to the title. After a short season, it felt like the South Korean was already on his way to the top when he produced an encouraging campaign at the Australian Open, seeing off a crucial win over Novak Djokovic en route to the semi-finals.

However, Chung’s promising form was cut short as he struggled with injuries in the following years, resulting in a two-year ban between 2020 and 2023. Last year, Chung returned to work on the ATP Challenger Tour and ITF Tours.

2018 Stefanos Tsitsipas

Having made a name for himself by climbing into the Top 15 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Stefanos Tsitsipas continued to cement his position as one of the game’s brightest prospects with his performance at the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF.

The Greek’s promise was evident in his achievements the following season, where he never lost track of his rise. Tsitsipas finished the year as World No. 6 after a breakthrough in his first appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. With three ATP Masters 1000 titles in Monte-Carlo, two Grand Slam final appearances and a top ranking of No. 3 to his name since, Tsitsipas has proven to be one of the hottest talents of his generation.

2019 Jannik Sinner

When Jannik Sinner earned a wild card to the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2019, not many expected the Italian’s dominance of the game. Soni showed glimpses of his potential in subsequent seasons, picking up 10 ATP Tour titles between 2020 and 2023, but that form proved far from his peak.

There is an undeniable anger beneath Sinner’s corporate-like exterior and it has come to the fore in 2024. After winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, Sinner became the first Italian to reach No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, but that was not enough. The record-setting 23-year-old ended the season with a career-best eight titles on Tour, including the Nitto ATP Finals, the US Open and three ATP Masters 1000s (Miami, Cincinnati, Shanghai), guiding Italy to a successful defense its competition. Davis Cup, and won the ATP Year-End No. 1 is his first to be released in honor of PIF.

With a strong 73-6 win-loss record in 2024, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Sinner looks a long way from letting go of his strong hold on the top of the ATP Tour.

2021 Carlos Alcaraz

With his rise to the top of the tennis world following his success at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in 2021, Carlos Alcaraz is a beacon of hope for the young stars competing in this year’s 20-and-under event. The Spaniard won five tour-level titles in 2022, including his first Grand Slam at the 2022 US Open – a victory that earned him the title of the youngest ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honors in history at the age of 19. .

Alcaraz’s eye-catching rise was no flash in the pan, however. The 21-year-old’s consistency has made him one of the best in the game and his blistering game has made him a threat to any opponent. This is highlighted in his Lexus ATP Head2Head record of 3-0 over World No. 1 Sinner in 2024, despite the success achieved by Italy. The Spaniard will be aiming to become the youngest player ever to complete a Slam when he heads to the Australian Open in January.

2022 Brandon Nakashima
Along with Chung, Brandon Nakashima found it difficult to adjust to life as the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the PIF champion following his victory in 2022. The American, who finished that season ranked in the World’s Top 50, found himself on the ATP Challenger Tour. events at the same venue for the following season following injury problems.

A large part of Nakashima’s slow decline was due to his inability to defend his title in San Diego, his hometown and the home of his first tour. But aware of the steps he was forced to take to return to form, Nakashima played nine Challenger tournaments in the first half of the 2024 season, and it paid dividends. By the end of the year, the 23-year-old had reached a career high of No.

2023 Hamad Medjedovic

It seemed that everything was possible for Hamad Medjedovic, the countryman of Novak Djokovic, when he became the latest champion in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by the PIF at the end of the 2023 season.

However, the Serbian has struggled with injuries and illness in 2024, posting an 18-15 win record across all levels. Medjedovic, however, ended the year with a run to his first ATP Tour final in Belgrade and the 21-year-old will look to build on that as he begins his 2025 campaign.