Nicolai Budkov Kjaer has qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals, presented by PIF, for the first time.
The 19-year-old Norwegian, who has four ATP Challenger Tour titles to his name by 2025, is the sixth player to secure a spot at the 20-and-under event, which will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from December 17 to 21. Budkov Kjaer sits at career-high 132 in the PIF ATP Rankings after an impressive rise.
While his continued success on the ATP Challenger Tour has been a solid foundation, it was his breakthrough in Bastad – where he cruised through qualifying before beating Thiago Monteiro for his first ATP Tour win – that put him in contention in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.
The 2024 Wimbledon boys champion grew up idolizing compatriot Casper Ruud. Budkov Kjaer has trained alongside the former world number 2 and three-time major finalist and describes Ruud as a ‘big brother’ who is learning valuable lessons along the way.
At the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, Budkov Kjaer will look to join the ranks of former elite champions including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, with whom the Norwegian played as a sparring partner at the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals.
Jakub Mensik, Learner Tien, Alexander Blockx, Dino Prizmic and Martin Landaluce have also qualified for the 20 and under event.
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