Next Gen Accelerator pathway expands, benefitting rising stars

The Next Gen Accelerator pathway will undergo further expansion in 2025, providing increased opportunities for players aged 20-and-under, ranked between No. 351 and No. 500 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

These players will have access to up to eight ATP Challenger Tour 50 and 75 main draw opportunities in 2025. To accommodate this expansion, the number of Next Gen entry spots at Challenger 50 and 75 events will increase from two to three, ensuring more young talent can compete at higher levels.

Additionally, the ATP has designated Week 24 (featuring ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Stuttgart) and Week 45 (Metz and Belgrade) as additional eligible weeks for Next Gen entry at the ATP 250 level. This brings the total number of eligible weeks for Next Gen entry to 10 in the 2025 ATP Tour calendar.

This expansion is part of a broader overhaul announced in December 2023, which revamped the ATP's approach to supporting young talent. The Next Gen ATP brand was restructured to include the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, the Top 350 Next Gen players, and the Next Gen Accelerator Programme under a unified structure.

A key change introduced during this restructure was the addition of new benefits for players aged 20-and-under ranked in the Top 350 of the PIF ATP Rankings. These players have access to up to eight ATP Challenger Tour 100 and 125 opportunities as part of the Next Gen Accelerator Programme.

Players ranked in the Top 250 also benefit from the expanded pathway, with eligibility for one ATP 250 main draw spot and two ATP 250 qualifying event opportunities. This expanded access offers young players a more seamless transition from the Challenger circuit to the ATP Tour, providing a clearer and more comprehensive player development pathway.

In 2024, players ranked in the Top 350 earned 85 match wins from the 86 Next Gen Accelerator entries, including eight at ATP 250 level. At junior and collegiate levels, 149 Accelerator entries were made by 44 players, with 14 ATP Challenger Tour titles won.

#NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik made the most of his ATP 250 main draw opportunity in Doha, where he reached the final. The 19-year-old’s run at the hard-court event boosted his PIF ATP Ranking from No. 116 to No. 87.

“The [Doha] week will be for me unforgettable,” Mensik said. “From the beginning, I didn't even get to this tournament on my own ranking. I had to use the Next Gen spot, so I tried to enjoy every moment on the court. I didn't expect that I would go through to the final, so I'm really happy with my performance.”

The expansion of the Next Gen Accelerator and its integration within the broader Next Gen ATP Brand underscores the ATP's commitment to developing young talent. With more entry spots, additional eligible weeks, and a revamped structure, the ATP is providing a robust platform for emerging stars to gain valuable experience and make their mark on the ATP Tour.