Last year’s ITF junior no. 1 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer made a significant step forward in the second month of the new season. The Norwegian conquered his first Challenger title in Glasgow, lifting a trophy at 18 years and six months.
Thus, Budkov Kjaer became the second-youngest Norwegian with the Challenger trophy in his hands after his great compatriot, Casper Ruud. Nicolai is also the fifth player born in 2006 with the Challenger title.
A teenager joined Joao Fonseca, Joel Schwaerzler, Martin Landaluce and Rei Sakamoto on the exclusive list. On Monday, the 18-year-old will crack the top-300 and move closer to entering the Roland Garros qualifying draw.
Pressure? What pressure? 😉
In his maiden Challenger final, 18-year-old Nicolai Budkov Kjaer overcomes Durasovic 6-4, 6-3 to claim the title in Glasgow#ATPChallenger pic.twitter.com/iuClTZarDQ
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 23, 2025
The Lexus Glasgow Challenger saw an all-Norwegian battle for the title. Nicolai bested Viktor Durasovic 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 15 minutes, playing well and lifting a trophy in style. A teenager produced a clinical performance behind the initial shot.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, Glasgow Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
The young gun dropped eight points in ten service games and kept the pressure on the other side. Durasovic could not match that level. The more experienced player offered his rival two break chances and suffered one break in each set to finish runner-up.
Nicolai closed the first game of the match with a service winner and repeated that at 1-1. Viktor fired a forehand winner in the fourth game, locking the result at 2-2. Durasovic drew the young guns’ mistake in game six and remained on the positive side.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer© Stream screenshot
A teenager moved 4-3 in front with an unreturned serve and mirrored that two games later for a hold at love and 5-4. Budkov Kjaer made a push on the return in game ten and generated two set points after Durasovic’s wayward backhand.
Nicolai passed his rival at the net on the first, delivering a break and taking the opener 6-4 in 33 minutes. The young gun gained a boost and provided two holds at love at the beginning of the second set. Budkov Kjaer stepped in on the return at 2-1.
He welcomed Viktor’s terrible forehand and grabbed a break that sent him closer to the finish line. A teenager came from 30-0 down in the fifth game and opened a 4-1 advantage. Durasovic survived deuces in the sixth game and remained in touch.
ATP Finals 2024© Facebook – International Tennis Federation
However, Nicolai held at love in game seven for 5-2 and generated two match points on the return in the next one. Durasovic missed two game points and faced two match points. He saved them, the second with a volley winner, and held after another deuce to extend the battle.
The younger Norwegian left those chances behind and claimed a 28-shot exchange on serve at 5-3 for two more match points. He seized the first after the rival’s loose backhand, sealing the deal and celebrating his first Challenger title at 18.
Tennis World USA