ATP Tour

Fuel for the Future: Inside the mindset driving #NextGenATP stars

“Nerves are opportunities.”

That’s the lesson Martin Landaluce carries into every match, and it’s a mindset that perfectly captures the spirit of the new generation.

As the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF approach, Landaluce, Justin Engel and Federico Cina are proving that what fuels tomorrow’s stars isn’t luck or raw talent, but the inner tools they’ve built: discipline, joy, connection and the belief that pressure can push you forward.

Landaluce claimed his second ATP Masters 1000 main-draw win in Cincinnati in August and added a second ATP Challenger Tour title to his resume one month later in Orleans, France. The results lifted him into strong contention to reach Jeddah and showed a maturity well beyond his 19 years. It’s a maturity that begins off the court.

“I like doing a lot of things outside of tennis that help me mentally. Reading, breathing exercises, meditation,” Landaluce recently told ATPTour.com. “Those things help me stay focused on court. I try to rely on discipline more than motivation. A lot of people think motivation comes first, but for me, discipline comes first and that brings motivation.

“You start doing something, and as you get better, you start enjoying it more. That’s where the motivation comes from.”

The Spaniard began training at the Rafa Nadal Academy when he was 14 and has been able to gain valuable insight from the 22-time major champion and former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. At the same time, he also began working with a psychologist, a combination that helped shape his understanding of pressure and helped him view nerves as a sign of growth rather than fear.

“That’s helped me mature a lot, not just as a tennis player, but as a person,” Landaluce said when asked about working with his psychologist. “One big thing is learning that nerves are actually good. They mean you care. Nerves are opportunities.

“You also have to learn to manage pressure, whether it’s from winning a big tournament, from your country, your club, or expectations others put on you. That’s a lot for someone who’s 16, 17, or 18 years old. Psychology has helped me stay calm, block out the noise and not get caught up in the negative side of things like social media or criticism. It’s helped me focus on what really matters.”

Landaluce’s commitment to discipline is a thread that also runs through the rise of Germany’s Engel, another standout in this year’s PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.

Engel’s 2025 season has been defined by breakthrough progress, most notably his inspired run on home soil in Stuttgart. The then-17-year-old became the second-youngest player since 1990 to win a tour-level match on all three surfaces after Nadal. In October, Engel overcame fellow Next Gen contender Cina in a tight final to capture his first ATP Challenger Tour title.

Watch Engel reach his first ATP Tour quarter-final in Stuttgart:

Despite the milestones, Engel remains grounded, built around simple rituals and a deep sense of dedication.

On the road, he finds balance through connection.

“When I have to do nothing, I call my friends and we talk for almost two to three hours,” Engel said, and on match days, he sticks to the same familiar routine: “I always eat the same thing in the morning… six eggs.”

But like Landaluce, the foundation of Engel’s rise is discipline.

“I always say it's not about motivation, just about discipline,” the 18-year-old added. “I try to give my best. Of course, sometimes it's good to have motivation, but it's not important. You just need to be dedicated, to be professional and just do your thing.”

As Engel continues his rise, Cina has carved out his own impressive path in 2025, building steadily on his early-season breakthrough. The Italian earned his first tour-level win at the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami and has also reached three ATP Challenger Tour finals this year.

For Cina, staying level-headed is just as important as pushing forward. Away from the court, he finds his balance in the familiar comforts that keep him connected to home.

“I’m usually quite relaxed, even before big matches,” said Cina, who reached the US Open semi-finals as a junior in 2023. “I like to chat with my friends, maybe video call them because I don’t see them much. I like traveling and flying, but I also miss home. Still, it’s my job and I love it, so I have to do it.”

_{^{Federico Cina maid his tour-level main-draw debut in Miami. Photo: Peter Staples/ATP Tour.}}

The long season has brought its challenges, but the 18-year-old approaches it all with a calm perspective, aided by the support of his father and former professional, Francesco Cina.

“Recently I was a bit sick at a tournament, and this hasn’t been a great period,” Cina admitted. “I’m also a bit tired after the season, but my coach and my dad remind me to keep enjoying practice. Keeping that spirit is very important, and the results will come. We talk about sport. I love my football so that helps me switch off from tennis.”

Cina’s calm contrasts with one of the most defining ideas Landaluce carries with him, a mantra passed down from his father and one he returns to when the pressure spikes.

“There’s one mantra my dad always told me on court: ‘You’re alone. Help yourself win’,” Landaluce said. “It’s simple, but powerful. In tennis, you’re out there alone. There’s no team like in football, it’s just you. You have to manage your emotions, your decisions, your pressure, everything, by yourself.”

It’s a reminder that while each player on the road to Jeddah has their own rituals, rhythms and sources of energy, the heart of their journeys is the same. Whether through discipline, friendship or joy, they’re learning to rely on themselves and to use every moment, even pressure, as fuel for what comes next.

This is the fourth feature of our Next Gen ATP series Next in Line. Read our other stories here:
Wimbledon dreams, Nishikori’s run & Vinci’s courtside lessons: Next Gen stars share memories
Next Steps: How Tien, Basavareddy & Engel are making the leap
Learning from Legends: Nadal, Cilic & Ram inspiring #NextGenATP stars