BASTAD, July 15, 2025
Norwegian teen sensation Nicolai Budkov Kjaer earned his maiden ATP Tour win on Tuesday at the Nordea Open in Bastad, overcoming Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in a hard-fought 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(2) battle.
The 18-year-old, who advanced through qualifying at the ATP 250 clay-court event, showcased impressive resilience and maturity beyond his years to secure the comeback victory after two hours and 41 minutes. With the result, Budkov Kjaer climbs to ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, keeping alive his ambitions to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals, which will feature the world’s top 21-and-under players.
Next up for the youngster is a challenging second-round clash with fourth-seeded Argentine Sebastian Baez, a proven performer on clay.
What a difference 12 months make!
Former Junior World No. 1 and Junior Wimbledon champion Nicolai Budkov Kjaer secures his first win on the ATP Tour against Thiago Monteiro 5-7 6-3 7-6 in ATP250 Bastad pic.twitter.com/2fx8NbzC15
— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 15, 2025
Budkov Kjaer’s steady rise in men’s tennis has gained momentum over the past 12 months. The Oslo native captured the Wimbledon boys’ singles title last summer and broke through at the professional level in February, claiming his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Glasgow.
That win, achieved in just his fifth tournament at the Challenger level, made him the second-youngest Norwegian to win a Challenger crown, behind only World No. 8 Casper Ruud, who congratulated his compatriot and Davis Cup teammate following his milestone.
