All you need to know about the Next Gen ATP Finals 2024

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 16 Dec 2024 | 11.00

Everything you need to know about the Next Gen ATP Finals 2024. Photo: Getty

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The Next Gen ATP Finals 2024 will return to the same venue, taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in this upcoming edition scheduled from December 18 to 22. It is a relatively new competition, as it was created in the 2017 season in Milan, the previous host city. This event is very special because only the top eight players of the season aged 20 or younger can participate, targeting those emerging talents who are already making significant strides.

The winners' circle often foretells a promising future for the champion, although each player has their own evolution and circumstances. Hyeon Chung, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Brandon Nakashima, and Hamad Medjedovic have been crowned champions of this event, with most of them succeeding shortly in the professional circuit, some even progressing prematurely to the ATP Finals.

The Next Gen ATP Finals aren't a typical tournament. Their rules set them apart. The event divides the eight players into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semifinals. The uniqueness lies in the game rules: matches are played best of five sets, but each set is decided by the best of four games, with a tiebreak at 3-3 if needed. The time between points is shortened, reduced from 25 to 15 seconds, all these measures pointing towards the innovation and pace dictated by modern tennis.

It's no longer a novelty, but at the time, having the Hawk-Eye system live, calling the balls directly to stop play in case of the ball going out, was groundbreaking. Therefore, the Next Gen ATP Finals allow fans to move freely around the stands without interrupting the game, something almost unimaginable on the circuit. On-court warm-ups are also shortened, and furthermore, a let does not mean a repeat serve, making the matches a bit more unpredictable. One of the more recent innovations is the provision for players to communicate with their coaches, a feature now seen in the official circuit but first tested in this tournament.

Schedule of the Next Gen ATP Finals 2024

The tournament of promises kicks off on Wednesday, December 18, with the group stage ending on December 20. The first semifinal will be held on Saturday, 21st, with the second on Sunday. The champion will be revealed on Sunday, December 22, taking home a prize of $153,000. Just by participating, the eight players receive $150,000 each, with a prize of $36,660 for each victory in the group stage. Not only the eight qualified players receive prize money, but also the alternate, in this case, Martín Landaluce, will leave Jeddah with an additional $15,000 in their account.

Prize Money of the Next Gen ATP Finals 2024

Alternate Prize (without playing): $15,000
Participation Prize: $150,000
Victory Prize in Round Robin: $36,660
Victory Prize in Semifinals: $113,500
Victory Prize in the Final: $153,000

In other words, if the champion secures the title without a single defeat, they will win a total of $526,480, with the total prize money distributed among the nine players being $2,050,000.

Participants