Top seed Tien tumbled in NextGen shock

Top seed Learner Tien took an opening defeat on Wednesday as the NextGen Finals kicked off in Jeddah, with the American upset in his opening group match 1-4, 4-3 (3), 1-4, 4-2, 4-3 (4).by Rafael Jodar.

The Spanish spoiler at the event with participants mainly pulled from the entry-level Challenger circuit is short on known quantities. American Tien is the exception after making his mark on the Tour last season with a title in Metz and an Australian Open fourth-round showing.

The stylised eight-man hybrid event for the best eight under-20 hopefuls on the rise is being staged in the Saudi city as part of the Kingdom’s well-funded push for a foothold in tennis.

Jodar saved four match points in victory against 2024 Jeddah finalist and No. 28 Tien over two hours.

“It was a battle,” said Jodar. “I knew the conditions were good for both, but I handled the good moments very well and I’m super happy to get the first win here in Jeddah,” Jodar said.

“I just tried to keep going and believe in myself. Learner always plays well, so I had to keep believing and I knew that I was going to have a chance.”

Tien the lone top 100 player in the field, succumbed to more than 20 unforced errors at the event whose reduced scoring system is designed for the shorter attention spans of the Gen Z target audience