Luca Van Assche and Nishesh Basavareddy meet in a high-stakes battle for a semi-final spot at the next-gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday.

The battle for a place in the semi-finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals is reaching its boiling point, with four players still in the running for the final two spots. Luca Van Assche and Nishesh Basavareddy will take centre stage in a winner-takes-all showdown at the prestigious event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as both players aim to finish second in the Red Group and secure their spot in the next round.

Van Assche, one of only three players returning to the Next Gen ATP Finals for a second consecutive year, has his eyes set on improving upon his semi-final appearance last year. The Frenchman enters the match with a 1-1 record after splitting his opening two matches. Basavareddy, on the other hand, comes into the clash after a sensational win against World No. 50 Shang Juncheng, marking the highest-ranked victory of his career. With 41 match wins and two ATP Challenger Tour titles this season, the American has shown tremendous promise.

The match promises to be a captivating contest between two players who are well-rounded in their games. Both Van Assche and Basavareddy possess all-court traits, which could make for an exciting battle of who can gain the upper hand first in the best-of-five, first-to-four set format unique to Jeddah. As the tension mounts, only one will emerge victorious and continue their quest for glory.

Meanwhile, in the Blue Group, Frenchman Arthur Fils and American Learner Tien will also face off in a do-or-die encounter. Fils, the top seed, had a slow start to the tournament but bounced back strongly to improve his record to 1-1. Having reached the final last year, the 20-year-old is hoping to go one better this time. Tien, who had a breakout season on the ATP Challenger Tour with three titles, will look to avenge his US Open loss to Fils, who triumphed in their first-round meeting in Flushing Meadows.

In the day’s earlier matches, second seed Alex Michelsen, already assured of a semi-final berth, will face China’s Shang Juncheng. Michelsen, who has shown great form this season, will be eager to maintain his perfect record in Jeddah and continue his momentum ahead of the semi-finals. Shang, who made history as the first Chinese player to compete at the Next Gen ATP Finals, will look to make his mark with a strong performance against Michelsen.

In the evening session, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca will take on Czech talent Jakub Mensik. Fonseca, having secured his place in the semi-finals, will be focused on maintaining his strong form. Mensik, the ATP Newcomer of the Year, is still seeking his first win of the tournament after a tough start, but he will be hungry for redemption in this pivotal match.

With each match carrying immense significance, the Next Gen ATP Finals are living up to their billing as a thrilling showcase of tennis’ rising stars. The action continues in Jeddah, where dreams of semi-final glory are just one win away.