Next Gen ATP Finals
Budkov Kjaer: A ‘sleepless night’, sweet revenge & a dream run in Jeddah
19-year-old, debutant at the Next Gen ATP Finals, speaks exclusively to ATPTour.com
December 19, 2025
Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer won four ATP Challenger Tour titles in 2025 to earn his spot in Jeddah.
By Jerome Coombe
Winning has been a familiar feeling for Nicolai Budkov Kjaer throughout 2025, and stepping on court at the and the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF hasn’t changed that rhythm one bit.
Two things have driven the 19-year-old’s run to becoming the first Norwegian semi-finalist at the event: a sharp competitive memory and a body that just keeps giving. Budkov Kjaer’s campaign in Jeddah began with his first win in four tries over Martin Landaluce, following it up with a composed victory against Rafael Jodar, the same opponent who denied him a second consecutive major title in the US Open boys’ final last year.
“It was a bitter loss. Two Grand Slams as a junior is special because many win one, but very few win two,” Budkov Kjaer told ATPTour.com in Jeddah. “I still remember the airplane ride, I was struggling to sleep. It was a tough loss.”
If anything, it was a loss that seemed to spark what came next. In 2025, Budkov Kjaer scooped four ATP Challenger Tour titles and rose to World No. 132 en route to earning his place at the 20-and-under showpiece.
At 6’3”, Budkov Kjaer’s weapons are obvious from the stands: a lively serve, clean power off both wings and the confidence to pull the trigger indoors, where he’s already won twice this year. But so far in Jeddah, it’s what’s at the heart of the points that has stood out.
“I’m quite pleased with a lot of things this week, but I think my physicality is really good,” said Budkov Kjaer, who won 11/14 rallies over nine shots against Landaluce, according to Infosys ATP Stats. “I’m moving extremely well and I don’t think I need to rush the rallies because I have a good base now.
“I was talking a lot with my coaches in the preseason about how I’m quite good physically. The longer the point, the better for me. Especially with Martin [Landaluce], who has an aggressive game, it’s a bit tougher to always play with a small margin, so maybe I took some inspiration from my countryman Casper [Ruud], who plays with the high spin and good margins.”
Watch Jeddah Highlights: Budkov Kjaer vs. Landaluce
Ruud, the former World No. 2 and three-time major finalist, is a familiar face in Budkov Kjaer’s journey, someone he’s practised with often and openly refers to as a ‘big brother’ figure. Yet this week, the 19-year-old has nudged past his countryman in one small but notable way, becoming the first Norwegian to reach the semi-finals in tournament history.
Budkov Kjaer has shown just why he is one of the brightest prospects on the ATP Tour so far in Jeddah, all with a tight-knit support system in tow. His sister, who is also a tennis player, has been a constant presence, alongside his parents — coach Alexander Kjaer and mother Tatiana.
“I’ve always been a guy that likes to compete and play matches — I get motivated by that,” Budkov Kjaer said when asked about his 2025 season. “I really like playing a lot of matches each year because you have all the pressure, all the emotions. You can never train like it is in a match. I think it’s a good thing and something I will keep doing, of course.
“I’m still super young, so I have a big career in front of me. I hope I’m not at my peak yet… I hope I play better in every tournament I come to and I think I am getting better and playing some of my best tennis right now.”
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and the power of the Magic 8 Ball 🎱🪄#NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/4fQJQztDZW
— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025
There has also been a lighter edge to his wins this week. Landaluce and Jodar aren’t just rivals, but friends, which has made the victories sweeter and post-match exchanges around the locker room and practice courts a little more playful.
“To get revenge is always fun and to do it against good friends is also fun because you joke and tease each other about it,” said Budkov Kjaer. “It’s cool that the revenge came here and in a special tournament. It’s always cool to win even if it’s revenge or not.”
Having lost to top seed and last year’s finalist Learner Tien on Friday night, Budkov Kjaer finished second in the Blue Group. Standing between him and a spot in Sunday’s final is 20-year-old Alexander Blockx. The pair clash in its first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting not before 7 p.m. local time. Former champions of the innovative event include Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
