Next in line
Fierce fight ignites latest #NextGenATP wave
Budkov Kjaer, Bailly, Basavareddy discuss rivals
December 2, 2025
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Gilles Arnaud Bailly, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and Nishesh Basavareddy appear in this week’s Next in Line feature.
Andy West
They may be relatively new to the tennis circuit, but the 2025 Next Generation ATP Finals presented by PIF Entrants quickly became a battle with their on-court rivals.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer will be ready to perform on the big stage when he makes his debut in Jeddah later this month. The 19-year-old Norwegian, who finished his regular season playing ATP Tour events in Stockholm, Vienna (his ATP 500 debut) and Metz, spoke to ATPTour.com about some of the deep-rooted relationships that already exist between some of the brightest young stars in men’s tennis.
“In our first season as juniors at the ITF, Joel Schwaerzler and I competed in the J500 in Osaka,” Budkov Kjaer recalled to ATPTour.com. “We trained a lot together that week and I remember I won the scrimmage but then he beat me in the final 7-6, 7-5. We won the French Open doubles title together the next year and I feel like we had a rivalry as well as a friendship.
“I have a lot of fun these days with Alexander Blockx and we compete in many of the same challenges. But when I was younger I was way behind all the other next generation players. It wasn’t until I was 15 that I progressed quickly, and from 16 I started competing in the same tournaments as all the other players.”
Even if he ends up facing only less familiar opponents than Blockx in Jeddah, Budkov Kjaer knows the level he must reach if he wants to make an impact at King Abdullah Sports City.
“I think they are all extremely talented and each have their own exceptional skills,” the Norwegian said when asked about the other Jeddah contenders. “History shows that the next generation of finalists can influence tennis for the next ten years. Some of these players I already know a little bit, while others I’m looking forward to meeting for the first time and getting to know more about them both on and off the court.”
Another player who is very familiar with Blockx is his compatriot, 20-year-old Belgian Gilles Arnaud Bailly. Bailly believes friendly competition with Blockx and other peers has the potential to be a key driver in his career.
“I have a very good relationship with Blockx. We talk a lot and get along very well,” said Bailey, who reached a career-high No. 201 in the PIF ATP rankings on Nov. 10. “Because I’m climbing now, I hope we can do more races together. We have a lot of contact and we play some games together on our phones, so there’s a competitive edge there.
“I get along great with him and I hope to see him and others on tour more often so our relationship can grow. I’ve known Blockx for many years and we’ve always pushed each other and it’s a healthy relationship.”
Bailly used his Next Gen entry to enter the indoor ATP 250 qualifier in Brussels in October, defeating world No. 51 Daniel Altmaier to earn his first tour-level victory on his home soil. He spoke about how important he believes top competition is to the development of #NextGenATP stars.
“I think the Next Gen slots we got are great,” Bailey said of the Next Gen Accelerator Pathway, which gives the top 250 players aged 20 and under the opportunity to earn one ATP 250 main draw spot and two ATP 250 qualifiers each season. “The rest of the next generation are doing great.
“Blockx, Landaluce, Budkov Kjaer are all doing really well on the ATP Tour and the Challenger Tour. It’s great that the ATP is giving us opportunities because otherwise some events would be difficult to play in, so the support is helpful. I like to see other young players doing well and it gives you further motivation.”
Watch highlights from Pele’s breakthrough ATP Tour victory:
Nishesh Basavareddy is one player who can prove Pele’s theory. Basavareddy competed in the Next Generation ATP Finals hosted by PIF in 2024 alongside a familiar face from his boyhood, Tian Jian, before facing his friend and rival for the first time at tour level on one of the biggest stages: the first round at Wimbledon in July.
“The first time I met Lelerna was when I was six years old,” Basavareddy told ATPTour.com. “We played in San Diego at the Little Mo Regional and I remember those games being real battles. I played against Alex as well [Michelsen] When I was seven years old, he was already one year older than me. We met at junior tournaments all the time and over the years not only did we compete, but we became close friends. ”
Basavareddy and Tenn did not play each other in Jeddah a year ago, when the latter advanced to the championship game. With Tian winning in straight sets at Wimbledon and both players now qualifying again for the Next Generation ATP Finals hosted by PIF, 20-year-old Basava Reddy will be looking to avenge the victory.
“I think our games work well together,” Basavareddy told ATPTour.com when asked about Tian’s situation before the Wimbledon match. “None of us are the biggest servers, but we have a lot of baseline rallies. [two Challenger] Contest [we played in 2024] Quite long, especially the first one in the final. He’s a counterattacker, he makes a lot of passes, and he’s very smart on the court, so he makes it difficult for you. ”
This is the sixth feature in our next generation ATP series Next. Read our other stories here:
Wimbledon dreams, Nishikori’s run and Finch’s sideline lessons: The next generation of stars share memories
Next up: How Tien, Basavareddy and Engel made the leap
Learning from the legends: Nadal, Cilic and Rahm inspire #NextGenATP stars
Fuel for the future: The mindset of the best young people
The voices that propel Landaluce & Cina to the top
