18-year-old Nicolai Budkov Kjaer tops former top-10 player

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Nicolai Budkov Kjaer is enjoying a breakthrough season at 18! The young Norwegian is the top-ranked junior, winning Wimbledon and reaching the US Open final and the Australian Open semi-final. A teenager is also making a name for himself on the professional circuit. 

Nicolai claimed two Futures titles this season, and we are enjoying his tennis at the Montemar Challenger this week. Budkov Kjaer defeated two rivals en route to the quarter-final, his first on this level. Thus, the Norwegian became the eighth player born in 2006 with the Challenger quarter-final. 

He joined Joao Fonseca, Martin Landaluce, Henry Searle, Joel Schwaerzler, Rudy Quan, Trevor Svajda and Kalylan Bigun on that list. Nicolai faced the 4th seed Francesco Passaro in the first round in Montemar and scored a 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 victory, earning his first triumph at the Challenger level.

The young Norwegian played against the former top-10 player Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round and prevailed 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 56 minutes for a place in the last eight. 

More or less this time last year I was watching Blockx put in an unbelievable performance to beat Moutet in Danderyd. I don't think I've gotten that same sort of buzz from a special showing of a youngster until today. Budkov Kjaer beats Carreño Busta 6-7(2) 6-4 6-4 in 2h 56m. pic.twitter.com/Ki0ImhS1Fo

— Damian Kust (@damiankust) November 20, 2024

The young gun dropped the opener against the more experienced rival before bouncing back in sets two and three. Nicolai saved 11 of 14 break points and provided five breaks from ten opportunities. They took the same number of points, and the Norwegian took charge in the decider to cross the finish line first. 

Budkov Kjaer served well in the last three games of the second set and provided four comfortable holds in the fourth to make the difference. A teenager closed the first game of the encounter with an ace and made a push on the return in the next one.

Carreno Busta saved a break point with a forehand winner, avoiding an early setback and holding with a service winner. The Spaniard attacked on the return in the fifth game, landing a drop shot winner and delivering a break that sent him in front. Nicolai remained focused and responded in the next game. 

The Norwegian seized the second break point after the rival's double fault, returning to the positive side and gaining a boost. The 18-year-old held at love in the seventh game and produced another fine hold at 4-4 with a service winner. Pablo served to stay in the set at 5-4. 

He closed it with a backhand winner and provided another comfortable hold at 5-6 to introduce a tie break with a service winner. Carreno Busta earned a mini-break in the first point and scored another at 3-1 after Budkov Kjaer's loose forehand drive-volley. 

The Spaniard welcomed the rival's backhand error for five set points. He converted the second after the youngster's wayward forehand for 7-6 in 58 minutes. Facing another setback, Nicolai faced six break points in the second game of the second set. He denied them and held with a service winner for a massive boost. 

The youngster clinched a break in the third game after the rival's double fault but could not take advantage of that. Nicolai sprayed a forehand error in the fourth game, losing serve and bringing Pablo back to 2-2. The Spaniard squandered game points in the fifth game and faced issues. 

The Norwegian seized the second break point after a backhand error from the former top-10 player. Thus, he provided his second straight break and forged the advantage. Budkov Kjaer survived a couple of deuces in the sixth game and cracked a forehand down the line winner for a break and a 4-2 lead. 

Carreno Busta generated a break chance in the eighth game with a forehand down the line winner. Nicolai erased it with a forehand winner and drew the rival's mistake for a 5-3 lead. A teenager served for the set at 5-4 and wasted three set points.

He seized the fourth with a forced error, clinching the set 6-4 and forcing a decider after two hours and four minutes. Carried by this boost, Budkov Kjaer cracked a forehand down the line winner in the first game of the decider, earning a break and building an early advantage. 

Pablo fought back and converted the fifth break point in the second game, drawing the rival's mistake and extending the battle. The home player missed a forehand at 2-2, suffering a break and sending the young gun in front. Nicolai welcomed the rival's mistake in the sixth game, holding and moving 4-2 up. 

Carreno Busta reduced the deficit with a backhand down the line winner in the seventh game before Budkov Kjaer held in the next one for 5-3. The Norwegian served for the win at 5-4 and painted a forehand crosscourt winner, moving over the top and reaching his first Challenger quarter-final.