Next Gen ATP Finals
\n Jodar saves 4 MPs, stuns top seed Tien in Jeddah thriller, Budkov Kjaer wins<\/p>\n
Landaluce vs. Budkov Kjaer to close night-session action on Day 1<\/p>\n
December 17, 2025<\/p>\n
Corinne Dubreuil\/ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Rafael Jodar stuns 2024 finalist Learner in an explosive Jeddah debut.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Rafael Jodar<\/a> ensured that there was no shortage of drama on his debut appearance at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF<\/a> in Jeddah on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n The World No. 168 saved four match points in a courageous 1-4, 4-3(3), 1-4, 4-2, 4-3(4) win over top seed and tournament favourite Learner Tien<\/a> in front of a vibrant crowd. Jodar, who was in Jeddah last year as a hitting partner, delivered a heavy-hitting display and used his fearless aggression late in the fifth-set to earn a two-hour victory.<\/p>\n That Jodar celebration \ud83c\udf89 #NextGenATPFinals<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RiAFMLmyrJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 17, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cIt was a battle,\u201d said Jodar. \u201cI knew the conditions were good for both, but I handled the good moments very well and I\u2019m super happy to get the first win here in Jeddah. I just tried to keep going and believe in myself. Learner always plays well, so I had to keep believing and I knew that I was going to have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n Tien, the World No. 28 and only Top 100 player in the field, leaked 23 unforced errors across the second and fourth sets to offer Jodar a route back into their first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash. But the 19-year-old Spaniard will take all the plaudits for the way he fended off the match points \u2014 including a drilled backhand down-the-line winner on the fourth.<\/p>\n After moving to 1-0 in Blue Group, the seventh-seeded Jodar can now look ahead to meetings with two fellow debutants \u2014 Martin Landaluce<\/a> and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer<\/a> \u2014 in the round-robin stage.<\/p>\n Fifth seed Budkov Kjaer closed out an intriguing opening night session by notching his first win over Landaluce, hitting a series of stunning winners en route to a 4-1, 3-4(7), 4-2, 4-3(4) victory. The two debutants put on a show for the lively fans as they continued their 2025 rivalry, but Budkov Kjaer\u2019s resilience and consistency proved to be the difference maker.<\/p>\n \u201cMartin is a good friend of mine,\u201d said Budkov Kjaer, who lost all three of their Challenger meetings in 2025. \u201cHe\u2019s been lucky enough to beat me three times this year and he\u2019s been on my list of players to beat. To get it here in Jeddah at the end of the season is great, so I\u2019m very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n You May Also Like: Budkov Kjaer, Landaluce & old scores to settle in Jeddah<\/a><\/p>\n The 19-year-old Norwegian won 79 per cent (11\/14) of all points over nine shots, including a dazzling back-in-behind winner to end a 18-ball exchange in the second set.<\/p>\n On Thursday in Jeddah, Budkov Kjaer will have a shot at revenge when he faces Jodar, who beat him in a third-set tie-break in the US Open<\/a> boys\u2019 final last year. Both players are arriving at the 20-and-under event in hot form, though Budkov Kjaer has won a Tour-leading four ATP Challenger Tour titles this season.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n