How many champions from past Next Gen Finals have truly made it?

As the new season approaches, the last event of this season, the Next Gen Finals, remains a topic worth talking about. Following the withdrawals of Fonseca and Menšík, the top favorite Lenerqian successfully secured the Next Gen Finals championship.

What is the current status of these champions, who represent the strongest new generation over the years? Let’s take a look:

2017: Chung Hyeon (Grand Slam semifinalist)

This Asian player, after winning the title that year, once eliminated Djokovic at the Australian Open the following year and reached the semifinals. Unfortunately, due to injury, he withdrew from the semifinal match against another great, Federer. That Australian Open was the peak of his career; since then, injuries have caused him to fade into obscurity.

2018: Stefanos Tsitsipas (Grand Slam finalist)

By comparison, Tsitsipas stands out among many except for Alcaraz. He reached two Grand Slam finals: losing in three sets to Djokovic at the Australian Open, and being reversed from a two-set lead by Djokovic at the French Open.

Although he won the Monte-Carlo Masters three times in the past five years—a tournament regarded as a precursor to the French Open—he has grown increasingly discouraged facing the dominance of Alcaraz and Djokovic, drifting further away from winning a Grand Slam title.

2019: Jannik Sinner (Grand Slam champion)

2021: Carlos Alcaraz (Grand Slam champion)

These two won the Next Gen Finals titles consecutively and together shared the Grand Slam championships over the last two seasons. Once they stood out remarkably in the crowd; now they are truly on a higher level!

2022: Brandon Nakashima (250-level champion)

2023: Miomir Kecmanović (250-level runner-up)

One is a consistent member of the American elite group, the other a longtime protégé of Djokovic. Although both have only excelled so far at the 250-level tournaments, given time, they should make their mark on bigger stages.

2024: Fonseca (500-level champion)

Last year’s champion is undoubtedly the hottest rising star among the new generation. He lived up to expectations, finishing the season with two titles, notably winning in Basel, Federer’s hometown tournament. Following in the footsteps of his idol is certainly a great achievement.

2025: Lenerqian (250-level champion)

This year, Lenerqian helped upset Medvedev at the Australian Open early in the year and ended with two titles. Now, under the guidance of former Grand Slam champion Michael Chang, can he reach the same heights as his coach?(Source: Tennis Home Author: Luo Cheng Qiye)