Budkov Kjaer’s Relentless Run Lights Up Jeddah

In the electric hum of Jeddah’s arena, where the crowd’s murmurs build like a gathering storm, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer has carved out a breakthrough at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. The 19-year-old Norwegian, standing 6’3” with a serve that bites through the indoor air, turned 2025‘s winning streak into semifinal fuel, becoming the first from his country to reach this stage. His path here blends raw power with sharpened patience, turning past defeats into the kind of momentum that shifts matches in the fifth set.

Budkov Kjaer’s campaign kicked off with a long-awaited win over Martin Landaluce, breaking a 0-3 head-to-head skid by extending rallies on the swift surface. He followed with composure against Rafael Jodar, the player who blocked his second straight junior major at the US Open boys’ final last year. That loss still echoes in his mind, a restless airplane ride home fueling the fire for this reversal.

Junior scars ignite semifinal surge

The sting from that US Open defeat resurfaced in Jeddah, but Budkov Kjaer channeled it into straight-sets dominance over Jodar, looping heavy topspin forehands crosscourt to stretch his movement before firing inside-in winners. Against Landaluce‘s aggressive flat shots, he absorbed pressure, winning 11 of 14 rallies over nine shots by dropping underspin backhands to disrupt rhythm and pull his opponent forward. This tactical patience, honed indoors where he’s already claimed two titles this year, turned quick points into endurance tests he owned.

Drawing from countryman Casper Ruud, a big-brother figure in practices and pre-season talks, Budkov Kjaer emphasized high-bouncing margins against baseline brawlers. Ruud’s influence showed in his one–two patterns, serving wide to set up down-the-line forehands that exploited the court’s speed. A loss to top seed Learner Tien on Friday dropped him to second in the Blue Group, but it only sharpened his focus for the semi against Alexander Blockx.

Physical base outlasts indoor aggression

Throughout 2025, Budkov Kjaer stacked four ATP Challenger Tour titles, climbing to World No. 132 by embracing a grueling schedule that built his legs for longer exchanges. His body held firm in Jeddah, moving laterally to cover crosscourt lasers without fading, a base that lets him trade heavy groundstrokes without rushing. “I’m quite pleased with a lot of things this week, but I think my physicality is really good,” he said, noting his movement kept margins safe against aggressive games.

“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.” With family in tow—sister, coach father Alexander Kjaer, and mother Tatiana—the support turned the arena’s buzz into a steady rhythm, much like his climbing serve that varies slice and flat pace to jam returns.

Watch Jeddah Highlights: Budkov Kjaer vs. Landaluce

Revenge adds joy to the grind

Beating friends like Landaluce and Jodar sweetened the victories, their locker-room jabs lightening the load after intense battles. “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,” Budkov Kjaer said. “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.”

At 19, he thrives on match pressure that no practice can mimic, a motivation carrying him through 2025’s packed calendar. “I’ve always been a guy that likes to compete and play matches — I get motivated by that,” he reflected. “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.”

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and the power of the Magic 8 Ball #NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/4fQJQztDZW

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and the power of the Magic 8 Ball #NextGenATPFinals pic.twitter.com/4fQJQztDZW

— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 18, 2025

With a career ahead and his best tennis emerging now, Budkov Kjaer eyes Sunday’s clash not before 7 p.m. local time, where former champions Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz once turned this event into legend. Against Blockx’s power, his endurance could swing the first head-to-head, potentially landing him in the final of this innovative 20-and-under showdown. The Jeddah lights will test if his blend of revenge and resolve can push him further into the spotlight.