#NextGenATP teen is sixth in PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer capped back-to-back title runs on the ATP Challenger Tour with his Sunday triumph at the President's Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Already the 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, who won the previous week's Tampere Challenger, defeated Italian Alexander Binda 6-4, 6-3 in the Astana final.

"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."

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, 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.

"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 [qualifying]. It's going to be a long season and hopefully I'm going to play the US Open for many years."