Top Alexander Blockx defeats Nicolai Budkov Kjaer to advance to next generation ATP Finals title fight ATP Tour

next generation

Big name Blockx beats “best friend” Budkov Kjaer to reach finals in Jeddah

The Belgian hit 27 winning goals and awaits Tianan or Basavaredi for Sunday’s final

December 20, 2025

Alexander Blockx came within one win of his first title at the Next Generation ATP Finals hosted by PIF thanks to another stellar performance on Saturday night.

The 20-year-old Belgian showed not only his explosiveness in the game but also his physical prowess in Jeddah, defeating good friend Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 4-3(4), 4-3(8), 4-2. Blockx attended the inaugural Next Generation ATP Finals in 2017 as a fan and is now waiting for top seed Learner Tien or Nishesh Basavareddy to compete in Sunday’s final.

The first Belgian to win the championship in history🇧🇪#NextGenATP finals pic.twitter.com/cy3UL1yReX

— NextGen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) December 20, 2025

“I thought it was probably going to be a straight sets match, but it was my toughest match so far this week,” Bullocks said. “I think both of us played at a very high level. In the second set, luck was on my side again. We had some long rallies and I was happy to share this moment with him.

“We’ve been talking about the next generation for a long time. In September we were talking about: ‘Imagine if we got to Jeddah and played against each other there,’ so it’s great to be able to share this game with him. He’s one of my best friends on tour, so it’s a really good Saturday for me.”

In the first Lexus ATP Head2Head match between the two heavyweights, Blockx got into a physical fight after winning the first set. Budkov Kjaer extended the game and showed his shot tolerance, showing there is still life left in the 19-year-old Norwegian.

However, Blockx’s power proved to be too much. In the final game, the Belgian hit 27 winners in the semifinals, including a fierce forehand pass that was one of 76 winners he hit in the semifinals, eventually sweeping the red group 3-0.

“It sounds exciting,” Bullock said during Sunday’s final. “I’m going to prepare as best I can. I think physically I feel good even though it’s a tough game and the time between points is short. The rallies are longer and there are no commercials and you don’t have a lot of time to think, so I think the most important moment here is to keep a cool head and that’s what I’m doing.”

In 2025, Brox won two ATP Challenger titles and earned his first tour-level victory in Cincinnati to earn a spot in the 20-and-under event. The 2023 Australian Open men’s champion has also reached a career-high No. 101 in the PIF ATP rankings and is certain to break into the top 100 for the first time in 2026.

Budkov Kjaer will leave Jeddah with his head held high after notching two impressive wins and becoming the first Norwegian semi-finalist in the tournament’s history. Despite the defeat, the 19-year-old has shown exactly why he is one of the brightest emerging talents on the ATP Tour, having already won four Challenger titles in 2025.