Blockx v Engel live stream guide and match preview for Next Gen Finals in Jeddah

Alexander Blockx and Justin Engel open their Next Gen Finals campaign in Jeddah on 17 Dec on indoor hard courts, with a best-of-three format set to test early control.

Blockx is the higher-ranked name, but Engel brings the slightly hotter recent record, so the early market lean comes with a note of caution. This preview also covers how to watch or follow the match live through official channels.

Blockx’s hard-court base looks sturdier

On hard courts this season, Blockx owns the deeper win volume at 34–19 and has two Challenger titles, while Engel sits at 19–15 with one. The underlying balance also leans Blockx: he has won 85% of service games and 25% on return, numbers that hint at steadier control of scoreboard pressure. Engel’s conversion rate stands out at 69% though, which suggests he can be ruthless if he gets a look at key moments.

Engel’s last-10 run adds real tension

Engel is 8–2 across his last 10, edging Blockx’s 7–3, and both arrive with recent title runs as Blockx lifted the Bratislava 2 Challenger crown while Engel won in Hamburg. Blockx’s recent serving has been the cleaner weapon, winning 89% of service games with 8.2 aces per match, and he has also created more on return at 23%.

With this being a year-end event for young players and the matches starting fresh, the usual scheduling flags feel less central despite Blockx logging 8 hours 52 minutes across his last five compared with Engel’s 6 hours 1 minute.

Bookmakers lean to Blockx in the prices

Bookmakers price Blockx at 1.53 against Engel at 2.5; the first-set prices are 1.67 versus 2.2. It frames Blockx as the expected starter, even with Engel’s recent surge keeping the gap from feeling comfortable.

Serve holds versus break-point sharpness

Indoor hard courts can reward first-strike patterns, and Blockx’s numbers point to slightly more reliable holds and more frequent return pressure, a useful mix in a short match. Engel’s recent return rate is low at 11%, but his season-long break-point efficiency suggests he does not need many chances to swing a set.

If the contest stretches, Engel’s 75% deciding-set win rate over his last 10 offers a clear counterweight to Blockx’s 60%. Ranked 116 to Engel’s 187, Blockx carries the higher baseline, but the margins still look sensitive to a handful of big points.

Prediction

Odds