Semifinal action opened on Saturday in Jeddah with an edgy encounter featuring Alexander Blockx against Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, the youngest Norwegian player to clinch multiple ATP Challenger titles this year, four overall.
Making his debut appearance at the world’s best 20-and-under players on tour event, Blockx rallied to outlast Budkov Kjaer with a 4-3(4), 4-3(8), 4-2 win, moving onto Sunday’s title match undefeated.
Assessing his semifinal contest, Blockx outlined: “It may have been straight sets, but it was my most difficult match this week by far.
“I think the level we both played was really high. The second set, again, it was just here that the luck fell on my side a bit. We had some very long rallies, and I am very happy I could share this moment with him.”
The 20-year-old, who this season made his Masters 1000 debut at the Miami Open as a qualifier, stood out throughout round-robin play, dropping just two sets to topple Red Group with a flawless 3-0 score.
Playing with aggression while showcasing great athleticism, he advanced to the last four, where he was pushed by his 19-year-old adversary and friend, sealing victory in three sets after one hour and 22 minutes.
“He is one of my best friends on Tour, so it was a really nice Saturday for me,” the second seed added.
The first Belgian player in the Next Gen ATP Finals history to make it through the title match will meet last year’s finalist Learner Tien on Sunday at King Abdullah Sports City.
Despite making a slow start to his second campaign in Jeddah, Tien found his groove when he needed it the most, booking a ticket back to the final for the second consecutive season.
In an all-American duel, the top seed overcame Nishesh Basavareddy 4-2, 4-1, 4-3(3) in 79 minutes, showcasing his best performance at the venue thus far this season.
The world No. 28 suffered a five-set upset at the hands of Rafael Jodar in his opener, recovering lost ground on Thrusday by notching a crucial 1-4, 4-1, 4-3(4), 4-3(2) win over Spaniard Martin Landaluce to keep his qualification chances alive.
On Friday, he held his nerve to overpower fifth seed Budkov Kjaer in four sets, reaching back-to-back semifinals.
In 2024, Tien lost to Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca, a defeat he described as “the most heartbreaking loss of my life up to that point.”
With his sights on capturing the title that escaped him last year, he asserted: “I will try not to let that happen tomorrow … I know Alex has been playing great this week, so I’m really excited.”
The 20-year-old American player enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025, which he set off in style, becoming the youngest American man to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open since Pete Sampras in 1990, early in January.
The left-handed, coached by Michael Chang and Erik Kortland, went on to reach another career milestone in Beijing, advancing into a first career ATP 500 final - fell to Jannik Sinner in straight sets.
Moreover, he claimed his maiden tour-level title in Metz by defeating Brit Cameron Norrie last November.
“I’ll have to rest up and form a new game plan,” he further commented. “Hopefully, I can come out well tomorrow. I think it will be a really tough match.”