18-year-old Nicolai Budkov Kjaer entered his fifth Challenger Tour event on an indoor court in Glasgow. Last year’s junior no. 1 earned four victories and earned a place in the title clash, achieving his best result at this level.
The Norwegian faced Germany’s Max Hans Rehberg and earned a 6-3, 7-6 victory in an hour and 29 minutes. Nicolai fired 11 aces and played well behind the first and second serve. A teenager saved two of three break points in two challenging games of the second set.
Rehberg faced two break points and failed to defend any. He made a late push in the second set to reach a tie break but could not extend the battle and force a decider.
What a moment for Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 🇳🇴
Norway’s top junior, replacing ill Dominic Thiem, faces off with his country’s most successful player ever – and he’s got Casper Ruud applauding his shots 👏#UTSTour | @uts_tour_ | @CasperRuud98 pic.twitter.com/kSXkzZc4S5
— Eurosport (@eurosport) February 10, 2024
A teenager provided five comfortable holds in the opening set. He kept the pressure on the other side and grabbed a break in the fourth game that sent him in front. Last year’s Wimbledon junior champion held at 15 in the first game of the match with a powerful serve.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, Glasgow Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
Budkov Kjaer closed the third game at love with an ace and made a push on the return in the next one. The German netted a forehand, losing serve at 15 and sending his rival 3-1 in front. Nicolai held at 30 in the fifth game and extended the advantage.
The young gun produced a hold at love in the seventh game for 5-2 and served for the opener at 5-3. Budkov Kjaer fired an ace, delivering another hold at love and closing the opener 6-3 in 31 minutes. Max Hans played better in the second set and moved 4-3 in front with an unreturned serve.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, Glasgow Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
He created his first break chance in game eight, and a teenager saved it with a forced error. Nicolai erased the second with a forehand down the line winner and held for 4-4. Rehberg hit a double fault in the 11th game and suffered a break after netting a forehand.
The Norwegian served for the win at 6-5 and experienced a setback. The German claimed an extended rally on a break point, stealing the rival’s serve for the first time and introducing a tie break. Budkov Kjaer clinched a mini-break in the first point and opened a 3-0 advantage.
Max Hans pulled one mini-break back at 1-5 with a forehand winner before missing a routine forehand to offer his rival four match points. Nicolas converted the second at 6-3 with a service winner, sealing the deal and reaching his first Challenger final at 18.
Tennis World USA