The seventh edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals concluded in Jeddah on Sunday with Joao Fonseca defeating Learner Tien 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2 to clinch the title.
Fonseca, the 18-year-old Brazilian, became the second-youngest ever champion in the event held for Top 8 under-20 players at the end of the season.
From 2017 till 2023, the age limit was 21 years and under.
Here is the list of previous champions and how their careers have turned out so far:-
Hyeon Chung (South Korea) – 2017
South Korea’s Hyeon Chung won the inaugural edition in 2017, beating Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the final in Milan.
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South Korea’s Hyeon Chung won the inaugural edition in 2017, beating Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the final in Milan.
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South Korea’s Hyeon Chung became the first-ever Next Gen ATP Finals champion in 2017. Chung defeated Russia’s Andrey Rublev 3-4(5), 4-3(2), 4-2, 4-2 in the final to lift the title.
READ | Fonseca keen to emulate success of Sinner, Alcaraz after ATP Next Gen win
Chung shocked Novak Djokovic on his way to the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2018, his best result at a Major. In April, he achieved his career-high ranking of 19.
However, a serious back injury kept Chung away from the sport from almost three years. He returned to profession tennis in 2023. Since then, he has won just four matches across the ITF circuit and the ATP Challenger Tour.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) – 2018
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas clinched the title at Next Gen ATP Finals 2018 with a victory over Australian Alex De Minaur in the final in Milan.
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Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas clinched the title at Next Gen ATP Finals 2018 with a victory over Australian Alex De Minaur in the final in Milan.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas won the Next Gen ATP Finals after beating Australia’s Alex De Minaur 2-4, 4-1, 4-3(3), 4-3(3) in the summit clash in Milan.
Since then, the Greek has won 10 titles on the ATP Tour and finished runner-up at the French Open in 2021 and Australian Open in 2023.
He achieved a career-high ranking of 3 in 2021.
Jannik Sinner (Italy) – 2019
Italy’s Jannik Sinner, at the age of 18, defeated De Minaur to become the champion at the Next Gen ATP Finals 2019 in Milan.
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Italy’s Jannik Sinner, at the age of 18, defeated De Minaur to become the champion at the Next Gen ATP Finals 2019 in Milan.
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Jannik Sinner is one of only two players who have won Grand Slam champions and also climbed to the top of the ATP Rankings after clinching the title at Next Gen ATP Finals.
Sinner, then 18, took down De Minaur 4-2, 4-1, 4-2 in the summit clash in Milan in 2019.
Since then, he has won 18 titles. The Italian raised his level in the 2024 season, winning eight titles, including the Australian Open, the US Open and the ATP Finals. He also replaced Djokovic as the World No. 1 in the ATP Rankings in June.
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) – 2021
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz took down USA’s Sebastian Korda to win the Next Gen ATP Finals 2021 in Milan.
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Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz took down USA’s Sebastian Korda to win the Next Gen ATP Finals 2021 in Milan.
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Carlos Alcaraz became the first Next Gen ATP Finals champion to win a Grand Slam. The Spaniard defeated USA’s Sebastian Korda 4-3(5), 4-2, 4-2 in the final of the 2021 edition in Milan.
A year later, he clinched his maiden Major as he beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 in the US Open final. The feat also helped him become the youngest World No. 1 in ATP Rankings history at the age of 19.
Overall, Alcaraz has won 16 titles, including two Wimbledon and one French Open title as well. He also grabbed a silver medal in men’s singles at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Brandon Nakashima (USA) – 2022
USA’s Brandon Nakashima defeated Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals 2022 in Milan.
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USA’s Brandon Nakashima defeated Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals 2022 in Milan.
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Brandon Nakashima had lost to Korda in the semifinals of the 2021 edition. In the same season, he had also finished as runner-up in Atlanta and Los Cabos.
A year later, the American entered the tournament having already won his maiden Tour-level title in San Diego. In Milan, he went all the way as he beat Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka 4-3(5), 4-3(6), 4-2 to become the champion.
He dropped out of ATP Top 100 last year. However, in 2024, he steadily climbed up the ladder and eventually reached his career-high ranking of 35 in September.
Hamad Medjedovic (Serbia) – 2023
Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic defeated Frenchman Arthur Fils in the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic defeated Frenchman Arthur Fils in the final of the Next Gen ATP Finals 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Hamad Medjedovic won the 2023 edition of the Next Gen ATP Finals. Jeddah hosted the event for the first time.
The Serbian defeated Frenchman Arthur Fils 3-4(6), 4-1, 4-2, 3-4(9), 4-1 in the most thrilling summit clash in tournament’s history.
In 2024, Medjedovic reached his maiden Tour-level final in Belgrade where he went down to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.
The Serbian is yet to make his Top 100 debut in the ATP Rankings.
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