Blockx vs Engel Prediction 12/17/2025 Today’s Tennis Picks

World No. 116 Alexander Blockx will face World No. 187 Justin Engel in the Red Group at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17. Here’s our Alexander Blockx vs Justin Engel prediction. This preview will also include an Alexander Blockx vs Justin Engel pick.

Tournament details

Tournament name: Next Gen ATP Finals
Draw: 8-player field 
Surface: Indoor hard 
Total prize money: $2,101,250
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Alexander Blockx vs Justin Engel Preview

Alexander Blockx is making his debut at the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. The 20-year-old Belgian came within one spot of making the Top 100 this season. Blockx achieved his first ATP Tour match win in Cincinnati when he qualified and beat Marcos Giron in the main draw. Blockx has picked up two titles on the ATP Challenger level, both on indoor hard courts in Oeiras and Bratislava. He finished the season ranked 116th.

Blockx compiled 29 wins and 16 losses at the Challenger level this year, which translated to a 64.4% win rate record. After his title win in Bratislava, Blockx played his last tournament of the regular ATP season in Metz, where he lost to Clement Tabur in the second round.

Justin Engel will also play in the Next Gen ATP Finals tournament for the first time after earning direct entry into the draw following the withdrawal of Czech Jakub Mensik. The 18-year-old pulled off an incredible feat this season, becoming the second youngest player to win a tour-level match on all three surfaces. He memorably made the quarterfinals of the ATP 250 event in Stuttgart on grass, getting the better of James Duckworth and Alex Michelsen.

Engel has since made strides on the Challenger Tour, winning his first title at that level in Hamburg in late October. That successful week could prove pivotal, considering the event was on indoor hard courts. Overall, Engel posted 41 wins and 38 losses in 2025 at all levels.

Alexander Blockx vs Justin Engel Head-To-Head

Blockx and Engel have never met at any level before this.

Alexander Blockx vs Justin Engel Prediction

From a matchup standpoint, I like Blockx to win this. But whether he gets done in straight sets in the format the tournament is played in is doubtful. He’ll have the more reliable first serve holds, clean baseline patterns and just sufficient firepower to dictate and get rallies under control. I’m leaning four sets with Blockx emerging victorious.

Nur Said's Pick: Blockx in four sets