“It was one of my biggest goals to reach this event before the season,” said Jakub Mensik after earning his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals. The Czech made waves in his breakout season on the tour. that included four top-10 wins. However, his opening contest won’t be a piece of cake as he preps to lock horns with American Learner Tien on Wednesday, December 18.

Jakub Mensik vs Learner Tien: Preview

Mensik commences his run in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the back of a bitter-sweet finish to the season. His motivating quarterfinal finish at the Vienna Open led many to believe he would qualify for the Paris Masters. However, having played three matches in 48 hours led the teenager to burn out and suffer a sharp pain in his leg, thus forcing him to withdraw from the top-tier event’s qualifying final round.

Tien, on the other hand, had an outstanding season, largely on the Challenger Tour. He finished runner-up in Knoxville after falling short of compatriot Christopher Eubanks‘s challenge. While he hoped to script similar results at Challenger Champaign, the teenager couldn’t move past the event’s Round of 32, eventually summing up his campaign for the year.

Mensik vs Tien: Head-to-Head

Both players have led numerous challenges against the tour’s high-profile contestants but have never crossed paths on the circuit. As a result, the duo’s current head-to-head stands still at 0-0, with their first-ever clash scheduled to kick off in Jeddah.

Prediction: Mensik to win in straight sets

Mensik arrives in Jeddah as one of the favorites projected for the win. And that’s natural, seeing that the Czech produced laudable results this year. The 19-year-old scripted thrilling results against some of the tour’s biggest competitors, including Andrey Rublev, Grigor Dimitrov, and Felix Auger-Aliassime. With a flair for winning and mixing up with some of the most formidable talents, the Czech concluded the season with a career-high 48 and an impressive win-loss record of 25-17.

A relative newcomer to the scene has already showcased his stronghold over the chip-and-charge gameplay. Mensik’s game is dictated by an aggressive approach, a big serve, and a masterful drop-shot skill that makes his opponents think twice before letting him approach the net.

Meanwhile, Tien won three titles on the Challenger circuit this year. Though he is yet to make his mark on tour-level events, the young American has already risen to a world ranking of 122. Tien also secured a spot in the main draw of the US Open, but, was hardly able to capitalize on the opportunity as he lost to Arthur Fils in the Slam’s opening round in four sets. While this tournament will help showcase how he holds up against other young talents in the sport, his chances against the Czech player seem slim.

Though he strived on the Challenger Tour and boasts a 31-9 win-loss record for 2024, the lefty player’s all-out attack gameplay likely won’t hold up against Mensik’s superior tour-level experience and shot-making skills. As a result, the Czech sensation should surpass Tien’s challenge and register the win without facing much resistance.