Lerner Qian claimed the 2025 Next Gen Finals championship.

Jeddah’s night was brilliantly illuminated, making the tennis courts as bright as day. The 2025 ATP Next Gen Finals championship battle began at 1 a.m. Beijing time on December 22 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where top seed Lerner Qian faced second seed Brox in a peak confrontation. This was their second career encounter after the 2023 Australian Open junior final and the last chapter of this tournament in Jeddah. When the final ball landed, the winner Lerner Qian spread his arms wide, joyfully like a big kid. The scoreboard read 4-3(4), 4-2, 4-1 — behind these cold numbers lay a two-year journey of redemption finally reaching its perfect conclusion.

Under the Melbourne sun in 2023, two young talents met in the Australian Open junior final. At that time, Lerner Qian had already shown extraordinary talent but lost narrowly in the deciding tiebreak 9-11 to Brox. After the match, he admitted it was “the most heartbreaking defeat” of his life. Two years later, as they faced off again in a final, everything was completely different.

Brox remained dominant, standing 1.93 meters tall with a powerful serve like a cannon, advancing to the final undefeated in this tournament. Meanwhile, Lerner Qian endured a thrilling group stage — suffering an upset loss in the first round to Spanish rising star Hodal, a defeat that instead awakened his inner resilience,then in the next round, he saved four match points in a comeback victory over Landarus, followed by a win against Budkov Sher. In the semifinals, he swept compatriot Basavareddy in three sets, charging back to the final with unstoppable momentum.

For a player only in his second professional year, Lerner Qian’s 2025 season was nothing short of phenomenal. His world ranking soared from outside the top 120 to number 28, backed by a series of remarkable achievements:

From an astonishing 28-match winning streak on the Challenger Tour in 2024, to claiming runner-up at the 2025 China Open, and capturing his first career title in Metz, Lerner Qian built his tennis empire with a maturity beyond his years. Even more impressive, he defeated Top 10 players five times, including giants like Medvedev and Zverev.

His mature demeanor is striking for someone so young. Facing tough opponents, he never shows fear; in adversity, he always finds a way to break through. This mental strength beyond his age is likely the invaluable asset forged through repeated heartbreaks.

On the final court, Lerner Qian’s gaze was completely transformed from two years ago. The regrets and frustrations then had turned into focus and determination today. His playing style was more versatile — suddenly approaching the net during baseline rallies, switching defense into offense, each shot filled with intelligence and purpose.

Taking the first set, it was as if he was telling his opponent: this time, victory will not slip away. In the next two sets, he fully controlled the pace, winning 4-2 and 4-1, steadily widening the gap as the scales tipped firmly in his favor.

When the final ball dropped, Lerner Qian did not celebrate wildly but opened his arms with the happy smile of a big kid. At that moment, he probably recalled the heartbroken version of himself from two years ago, remembering the hardships and perseverance along the way. From junior runner-up at the Australian Open two years ago, to ATP Next Gen Finals runner-up last year, and now champion this year, he took two years to surpass himself.

At the award ceremony, Lerner Qian’s radiant smile shone as he lifted the trophy. This title was more than an honor — it was proof that past failures are not the end but stepping stones to greatness; proof that heartbreaks can heal and return stronger than ever.

“These two years’ results can be called complete,” he said, a statement backed by countless early morning trainings, many post-match reviews, and a blend of sweat and tears. Lerner Qian embodies what true youthful success means: not never failing, but daring to start again after failure; not just gifted, but turning talent into real achievements.

The ATP Next Gen Finals’ final performance in Jeddah ended with Lerner Qian’s perfect championship. But for him, this is only the beginning. Being ranked 28th in the world at age 20 is merely a stepping stone toward even greater heights.

In his prime and outstanding, Lerner Qian’s story reminds us that the most precious victories often come after the most devastating defeats. When youth fades and wounds become armor, a new star in tennis rises, illuminating his own era.

On future Grand Slam stages, we will surely see this familiar figure again. And then, he will carry not only exceptional skills but also a legendary story of heartbreak turned into coronation.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)