Nicolai Budkov Kjaer runs to Jeddah in outstanding challenger season | ATP Journey

Challenger

#NextGenatp Budkov Kjaer runs towards Jeddah in outstanding challenger season

Carreno Busta, Garin Triumph; 2024 NCAA singles champion Zheng continues form

October 6, 2025

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer quickly proved himself one of the smartest young talents on the ATP Challenger tour.

The 19-year-old won his fourth title of the season in the open-seller opening match in France, where he beat U.S. Patrick Kepsen 6-0, 6-3 in just 54 minutes. Now, Norwegians are at the top of the 2025 Challenger Title Ranking, with Borna Coric and Emilio Nava at the level.

“I’m so grateful and I’m so happy to be here to win the trophy,” Budkov Kjaer said. “It’s been a great week, played a lot of great tennis and it’s a super great game.”

Budkov Kjaer ranked fifth in the PIF ATP live match and fifth in the PIF ATP live match. 20 and below will be held from December 17 to 21.

PIF ATP Live Competition to Jeddah

Budkov Kjaer won his Virgin Challenger Championship in Glasgow in February and returned to the winner circle in July, winning back-to-back wins in Tampere and Astana, becoming the youngest Norwegian to claim multiple Challenger Championships. The 2024 Wimbledon Boys singles champion finished seventh in Mouilleron le Catchif, losing a set all week, adding to his breakthrough season.

Top 20 Stars Carreno Busta, Garin wins Challenger Championship
Travel consultants Pablo Carreno Busta and Cristian Garin both won locally. Carreno Busta is the top 10 in PIF ATP rankings, winning Ferrero Challenger at Villena, where he beat Frenchman Hugo Grenier 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the championship game. The 34-year-old Carreno Busta is the 14-time Challenger Champion.

Pablo Carreno Busta in action at Ferrero Challenger.
^{Pablo Carreno Busta operates at Ferrero Challenger. Credits: Ferrero Challenger}

Galin won his third Challenger title of the season in an unforgettable way, winning at Antofagasta, Chile. The 29-year-old needs to make a decision in his three games, including a final defeat of Facundo Diaz Acosta 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Cristian Garin celebrates winning the Antofagasta challenger. ” style =”width: 100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com//media/media/images/news/news/2025/06/06/106/15/15/15/15/15/22/garin-antofagastach-20255.jpg’>
^{Cristian Garin celebrates winning the Antofagasta challenger. Credits: Miguel Zamora/Legión Sudamericana}

2024 NCAA singles champion Zheng Eunuch has extended an impressive form, winning his third title since August
Michael Zheng, the defending NCAA singles champion, swept the Challenger Track. The 21-year-old, a senior at Columbia University, won his third championship in two months. Zheng has won 16 of 16 games in the last 17 games, and his only loss is in the qualifying match at the U.S. Open. Zheng did not drop the game at Tiburon, and he defeated Tyler Zink 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

Zheng is the winner of the Chicago and Columbus Challenger this year, ranking 178th in the PIF ATP Live rankings, making him a new career high.

Michael Zheng
^{Michael Zheng won the Tiburon Challenger. Credits: Natalie Kim}

Mikrut
Luka Mikrut won his second Challenger title of the year at the Braga Open in Portugal. Mikrut, 21, blocked Lithuanian Vilius Gaubas back-to-back titles in the final, and the Croatians won the game 6-3, 6-4. Gaubas was crowned champion in last week’s Lisbon Challenger. Mikrut ranks 59th in the PIF ATP Live rankings and 180th.

Luka Mikrut signed after the title of Braga Challenger. ” style =” width: 100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com//media/media/images/news/news/2025/2025/106/06/15/15/15/32/mikikrut-mikrut-bragach-20255.jpg’>
^{Luka Mikrut by Braga Challenger. Credits: Eduardo Oliveira/fpt}