Challenger
Budkov Kjaer, 18, banks back-to-back Challenger titles
#NextGenATP teen is sixth in PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah
August 03, 2025
Andrey Udartsev/President’s Cup
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer triumphs on the ATP Challenger Tour for the second consecutive week.
By ATP Staff
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer capped back-to-back title runs on the ATP Challenger Tour with his Sunday triumph at the President’s Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Already the youngest Norwegian to claim multiple Challenger titles, the 18-year-old added to that count with a dominant week in Astana, where he did not drop a set all tournament. Budkov Kjaer, who won the previous week’s Tampere Challenger, defeated Italian Alexander Binda 6-4, 6-3 in the Astana final.
2025 x3⃣ 🏆🏆🏆
Two titles in two weeks as Budkov Kjaer takes down Binda 6-4, 6-3 in Astana! #OnTheRise pic.twitter.com/0CYuWB4bB4
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 3, 2025
“I played some good tennis, I felt confident in my game,” said Budkov Kjaer, a three-time Challenger champion. “I was serving very well and I took my chances when I had them. I know I have a good level and I just tried to perform at that level every day.”
The #NextGenATP teen is in good position to qualify for his maiden trip to the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, held from 17-21 December. At sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Budkov Kjaer is setting his sights on competing in Jeddah.
“I’m going to stay on the clay, I’m trying to push for the Next Gen Finals instead of going to the US,” Budkov Kjaer explained. “I’m choosing not to go to the US Open [qualifying]. It’s going to be a long season and hopefully I’m going to play the US Open for many years.”
In other Challenger action, American Zachary Svajda lifted his second Challenger trophy in three weeks. The 22-year-old won the Lexington Open following a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 final victory against Australian Bernard Tomic.
Svajda won the Newport Challenger last month and then travelled to the ATP 500 in Washington, D.C., where he advanced through qualifying — beating Tomic in the first round of qualies — before reaching the second round. Svajda has won 13 of his past 14 Challenger-level matches.
“I definitely feel like I’m playing at a good level, Top 50 I would say,” Svajda told commentator Bryan Fenley. “I know I’ve always had that in me, even before when I was struggling in the practices, where I could almost beat whoever I played, but I never could really do it a lot in tournaments. It’s nice putting it together and seeing the results come.”
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German Yannick Hanfmann triumphed on home soil at the Platzmann Open in Hagen. Hanfmann rallied past Guy Den Ouden 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the final to secure his seventh Challenger crown and first since 2020. Hanfmann saved a match point in his second-round match against Timofey Skatov and built upon his momentum to return to the winner’s circle.
Moez Echargui became the second-oldest first-time Challenger champion (32 years, six months) by winning the Eupago Porto Open in Portugal. Playing his first Challenger final, the Tunisian qualifier showed no signs of nerves as he raced past Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2.
Peru’s Gonzalo Bueno captured his third Challenger crown and first of this season at the Svijany Open in Czechia. Bueno, 21, led Genaro Alberto Olivieri 6-2, 2-0 in the final when the Argentine retired with a right foot injury.