Next Gen ATP Finals: Van Assche, Tien Round Out Semifinal Lineup

Luca Van Assche, Next Gen ATP Finals
Luca Van Assche (photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour)

JEDDAH/WASHINGTON, December 21, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

In back-to-back winner-take-all matches at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF Friday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 128th-ranked Luca Van Assche of France and American Learner Tien, ranked No. 122, rose to the occasion and each secured a four-set victory to advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.

Van Assche advances to second straight last four

No. 6 seed Luca Van Assche of France advanced to his second straight Next Gen ATP Finals semifinals with a hard-fought 3-4 (2), 4-3 (7), 4-2, 4-2 victory over No. 7 seed Nishesh Basavareddy of the United States in two hours, in a winner-take-all-battle at the King Abdullah Sports City.

The 20-year-old Frenchman, who hit 11 aces and struck 31 winners, recovered after dropping the first set by saving one set point during a second-set tie-break to draw even. The victory advanced Van Assche (2-1) to face undefeated Blue Group winner Joao Fonseca.

“It was very, very close. I think I played at a good level. The start was tough but then I managed to play better,” Van Assche said during his on-court interview.

“I managed my emotions well, especially when my head was exploding. I like to thank the public here because it was busy and they were cheering for me a lot. I am ready for the semifinals.”

Tien tops Fils to set all-American semifinal

Fifth-seeded American Learner Tien took out top seed and last year’s finalist Arthur Fils of France, 4-2, 4-2, 3-4 (4), 4-3 (5) in one hour and 42 minutes, in a win-or-go-home tussle to advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.

The 122nd-ranked, 19-year-old from Irvine, Calif. finished second in the Blue Group (2-1) and will face close friend and fellow American Alex Michelsen (3-0), who sat in Tien’s players’ box cheering for him.

“I thought I played really well today,” Tien said during his on-court interview, describing the feeling of securing the biggest win of his budding career, in beating World No. 20 Fils. “It was great to rebound and have a good match after getting chopped by Joao [Fonseca] yesterday. 

“It’s great to come out here and play good tennis. I thought I maintained my level pretty well from the beginning to the end.”

Tien saved all three break points he faced, hit 20 winners and outpointed Fils 83-74.

Michelsen finishes group play undefeated

No. 2 seed Alex Michelsen of the United States was winless in his first Next Gen ATP Finals appearance a year ago. Fast forward 12 months, the No. 41-ranked Michelsen completed an undefeated group stage on Friday after his opponent, No. 50 Shang Juncheng of China, retired early in the second set due to illness.

Michelsen was ahead of Shang, 4-3 (2), 1-1, when the 19-year-old Chinese retired.

“I feel pretty good. It feels good to be 3-0,” Michelsen said afterward. “Obviously, I wish Jerry could have played today, but I knew he was a little sick yesterday. So, it’s just unfortunate timing for him. He’s a great player. I’m just super happy to be through.”

On Saturday, the 20-year-old Michelsen from Laguna Hills, Calif. will face No. 5 seed Learner Tien of the United States in an all-American semifinal battle.

Fonseca guts out five-set win over Mensik

Brazilian teen star Joao Fonseca held his nerve when it counted most and garnered a 3-4 (4), 4-3 (8), 4-3 (5), 3-4 (4), 4-3 (5) victory over winless No. 3 seed Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic in two hours, 11 minutes – easily the longest match of the day.

The 18-year-old No. 3 seed, who qualified for Saturday’s semifinal round after winning his first two group-stage matches, maintained a perfect 3-0 win-loss record in his tournament debut. He withstood 22 aces from Mensik by hitting 11 of his own and saved four of five break points he faced. Fonseca finished with 38 winners and outpointed his opponent 114-110.

“In tennis – I think, in any sport – you have to think about today, not tomorrow,” Fonseca said during his on-court interview describing the importance of playing well in a meaningless match. “Before the match, I had already qualified for the semifinals. [Still,] I gave 100 percent, we played five sets. I did my best. 

“I met Rafa [Nadal] today, so I was kind of inspired.”

Fonseca was part of a group of futures stars, which also included Mensik and Alex Michelsen, who met with the 22-time major champion during Nadal’s visit to Jeddah on Friday.

Next, the 145-ranked Fonseca will play No. 6 seed Luca Van Assche of France for a berth in Sunday’s final.

Friday’s Next Gen ATP Finals results

Saturday’s Next Gen ATP Finals order of play

By the numbers

American Alex Michelsen has improved his ranking by 56 places since the start of the year. In January, Michelsen was ranked No. 97. Now, he’s ranked 41st.

“Quotable …”

“I just try to approach each match as a separate match. I don’t try to think about the matches I’ve won or lost. Obviously, taking the confidence from the ones I’ve won and having short-term memory with the losses. Just approaching every match as its own match and not really paying too much attention to my record.”

– No. 5 seed Learner Tien of the United States, describing his mentality this year, during his Friday on-court interview.

 

Search

Brigitte Urban
Tennis photographer
camera lens

International Blogs

Dietmar Kaspar

Schwaben Open kehren 2025 in die bayerischen Sommerferien zurück

December 16, 2024

Robert Frank

TCG Charity Cup bringt 13.000 Euro für den guten Zweck

October 16, 2024

Florian Heer

Apostolos Tsitsipas: “Coaching ist etwas Persönliches!”

September 4, 2024

Podcast

Categories