WATCH: Internet sensation Hasbulla Magomedov perform the coin toss at Next Gen ATP finals

American Tennis star Tien made a remarkable debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals, winning in a thrilling five-set match against Jakub Mensik in Jeddah on Wednesday. Tien started strong, winning the first two sets in tiebreaks with scores of 4-3. However, Mensik, who earned the ATP Newcomer of the Year award, took the fight head-on by rallying to take the third and fourth sets. The final set was particularly intense, with Tien demonstrating great composure by saving a match point before ultimately securing victory with a scoreline of 4-3(6), 4-3(3), 2-4, 2-4, 4-3(8).

Mensik delivered an impressive performance, hitting 20 aces in the contest the highest number recorded in any Next Gen ATP Finals match in the tournament’s history. In the second match of the Blue Group on Wednesday, top seed Arthur Fils will face off against Brazil’s Joao Fonseca.

“It was tough playing a guy that serves that well. It puts a lot of pressure on your serve. When you get your chance, you have to capitalise, because you don’t know when you’re going to get more.” said Tien.

"I feel great. I was up two sets to love, and found myself break point down in the fifth, which was tough. I thought he played really well in the third and fourth, I felt like I didn’t just give it to him. So I just fought in the fifth and I am just really happy to get through it.” Tien added.

Russian celebrity Hasbulla Magomedov graced the occasion 

Before the match, renowned Russian personality, Hasbulla Magomedov participated in the fixture. Hasbulla Magomedov did the coin toss. Following the coin toss, the personality took photographs of the two rising tennis stars.

WATCH the video here:

The one and only @hasbulla_main 😎#NextGenATPFinalspic.twitter.com/8ruKqsGWxv

— ATP Tour (@atptour) December 18, 2024