![\"Nicolai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/budkov-kjaer-astanach-2025.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Challenger
\n Budkov Kjaer, 18, banks back-to-back Challenger titles<\/p>\n
#NextGenATP teen is sixth in PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah<\/p>\n
August 03, 2025<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Andrey Udartsev\/President’s Cup<\/p>\n
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer triumphs on the ATP Challenger Tour for the second consecutive week.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer<\/a> capped back-to-back title runs on the ATP Challenger Tour with his Sunday triumph at the President’s Cup<\/a> in Astana, Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n Already\u00a0the 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,\u00a0who won the previous week’s Tampere Challenger, defeated Italian Alexander Binda 6-4, 6-3 in the Astana final.<\/p>\n 2025 x3\u20e3 \ud83c\udfc6\ud83c\udfc6\ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n Two titles in two weeks as Budkov Kjaer takes down Binda 6-4, 6-3 in Astana! #OnTheRise<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0CYuWB4bB4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) August 3, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n “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<\/a> [qualifying]. It’s going to be a long season and hopefully I’m going to play the US Open<\/a> for many years.”<\/p>\n In other Challenger action, American Zachary Svajda<\/a> lifted his second Challenger trophy in three weeks. The 22-year-old won the Lexington Open<\/a> following a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 final victory against Australian Bernard Tomic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Svajda won the Newport Challenger last month and then travelled to the ATP 500 in Washington, D.C., where he advanced through qualifying \u2014 beating Tomic in the first round of qualies \u2014 before reaching the second round. Svajda has won 13 of his past 14 Challenger-level matches.<\/p>\n \u201cI definitely feel like I\u2019m playing at a good level, Top 50 I would say,\u201d Svajda told commentator Bryan Fenley. \u201cI know I\u2019ve 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\u2019s nice putting it together and seeing the results come.\u201d<\/p>\n You May Also Like: Svajda dedicates Challenger title to his father after emotional year<\/a><\/p>\n German Yannick Hanfmann<\/a> triumphed on home soil at the Platzmann Open<\/a> in Hagen. Hanfmann rallied past Guy Den Ouden<\/a> 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<\/a> and built upon his momentum to return to the winner\u2019s circle.<\/p>\n Moez Echargui<\/a> became the second-oldest first-time Challenger champion (32 years, six months) by winning the Eupago Porto Open<\/a> in Portugal. Playing his first Challenger final, the Tunisian qualifier showed no signs of nerves as he raced past Francesco Maestrelli<\/a> 6-3, 6-2.<\/p>\n Peru\u2019s Gonzalo Bueno<\/a> captured his third Challenger crown and first of this season at the Svijany Open<\/a> in Czechia. Bueno, 21, led Genaro Alberto Olivieri<\/a> 6-2, 2-0 in the final when the Argentine retired with a right foot injury.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n