#NextGenATP Budkov Kjaer surging towards Jeddah with standout Challenger season
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer is quickly proving himself as one of the brightest young talents on the ATP Challenger Tour.
On Sunday, the 19-year-old claimed his fourth title of the season at the Open de Vendee in France, where he stormed past American Patrick Kypson 6-0, 6-3 in just 54 minutes. The Norwegian is now level with Borna Coric and Emilio Nava atop the 2025 Challenger-title leaderboard.
“I’m super grateful and super happy to get the trophy here,” said Budkov Kjaer. “It was a great week with a lot of great tennis played and it was a super nice tournament.”
Up two places to fifth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Budkov Kjaer improved his chances of qualifying for his maiden trip to the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF. The 20-and-under event will be held 17-21 December.
PIF ATP LIVE RACE TO JEDDAH
| Player | Live Points |
| 1) Jakub Mensik | 2,140 |
| 2) Learner Tien | 1,270 |
| 3) Joao Fonseca | 1,085 |
| 4) Dino Prizmic | 487 |
| 5) Nicolai Budkov Kjaer | 436 |
| 6) Martin Landaluce | 420 |
| 7) Alexander Blockx | 390 |
| 8) Nishesh Basavareddy | 349 |
Budkov Kjaer won his maiden Challenger title in Glasgow in February and returned to the winner’s circle in July with back-to-back triumphs in Tampere and Astana, becoming the youngest Norwegian to claim multiple Challenger titles. Seeded seventh in Mouilleron le Captif, the 2024 Wimbledon boys’ singles champion dropped just one set all week to add to his breakthrough season.
Former Top 20 stars Carreno Busta, Garin win Challenger titles
Tour-veterans Pablo Carreno Busta and Cristian Garin each triumphed on home soil. Carreno Busta, former No. 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, won the Ferrero Challenger in Villena, where he rallied past Frenchmen Hugo Grenier 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the championship match. The 34-year-old Carreno Busta is a 14-time Challenger champion.
<img alt=”Pablo Carreno Busta in action at the Ferrero Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/06/15/17/carreno-busta-villenach-2025.jpg” />
Pablo Carreno Busta in action at the Ferrero Challenger. Credit: Ferrero Challenger
Garin captured his third Challenger title of the season in memorable fashion, by winning at home in Antofagasta, Chile. The 29-year-old needed a deciding set in three of his matches, including a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 final victory against Facundo Diaz Acosta.
<img alt=”Cristian Garin celebrates winning the Antofagasta Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/06/15/22/garin-antofagastach-2025.jpg” />
Cristian Garin celebrates winning the Antofagasta Challenger. Credit: Miguel Zamora/Legión Sudamericana
2024 NCAA singles champ Zheng extends impressive run of form, captures third title since August
American Michael Zheng, the reigning NCAA singles champion, is making a splash on the Challenger circuit. The 21-year-old, who is a senior at Columbia University, claimed his third title in two months. Zheng has won 16 of his past 17 matches, with his lone loss being a qualifying defeat at the US Open. Zheng did not drop a set in Tiburon, where he beat Tyler Zink 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
The winner of this year’s Chicago and Columbus Challengers, Zheng is up to No. 178 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting him up for a new career high.
<img alt=”Michael Zheng wins the Tiburon Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/06/15/26/zheng-tiburonch-2025.jpg” />
Michael Zheng wins the Tiburon Challenger. Credit: Natalie Kim
Mikrut set for career high following second Challenger title of 2025
Luka Mikrut won his second Challenger title of the year at the Braga Open in Portugal. Mikrut, 21, stopped Lithuanian Vilius Gaubas from back-to-back title runs in the final, which the Croatian won 6-3, 6-4. Gaubas was crowned champion at the previous week’s Lisbon Challenger. Mikrut is up 59 places to No. 180 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
<img alt=”Luka Mikrut signs autographs following his title run at the Braga Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/10/06/15/32/mikrut-bragach-2025.jpg” />
Luka Mikrut at the Braga Challenger. Credit: Eduardo Oliveira/FPT