Jodar vs Budkov Kjaer Prediction 12/18/2025 Today’s Tennis Picks

World No. 168 Rafael Jodar will face World No. 136 Nikolai Budkov Kjaer in the Blue Group at the Next Gen ATP Finals on Thursday, December 18. Here’s our Rafael Jodar vs Nikolai Budkov Kjaer prediction. This preview will also include a Rafael Jodar vs Nikolai Budkov Kjaer pick.

Tournament details

Tournament name: Next Gen ATP Finals
Draw: 8-player field 
Surface: Indoor hard 
Total prize money: $2,101,250
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Rafael Jodar vs Nikolai Budkov Kjaer Preview

Rafael Jodar scored one of the most dramatic wins in Next Gen ATP Finals history in the opening day of the tournament. The 19-year-old Spaniard upstaged tournament favorite and top seed Learner Tien in five sets. Jodar saved four match points in the fifth set complete arguably the most shocking result of the week.

Jodar trailed by two sets to one after getting outplayed by Tien for most of the first three sets, but he broke the American late in the fourth set and then served to level the match. Tien led 3-1 in the deciding set and served for the match, but Jodar saved a match point on return before sealing a break back. While serving to stay in the match, Jodar saved three more match points to force a tiebreaker, which again, he rallied from behind to win.

Nikolai Budkov Kjaer pulled off a surprise result of his own on the opening day of the tournament. He defeated his Martin Landaluce, who, before this week, had beaten him three times without reply. But the Norwegian hit some spectacular winners on his way to a 4-1, 3-4, 4-2, 4-3 victory in under two hours.

In the victory, Budkov Kjaer tallied 9 aces and 2 double faults. He landed 68% of first serves in play and won 76% of first serve points (38/50). Budkov Kjaer won 54% of second serve points (13/24) and saved two of four break points.

Rafael Jodar vs Nikolai Budkov Kjaer Head-To-Head

Jodar and Budkov Kjaer haven’t met at the tour level, but played for the US Open junior title last year. Jodar won in a third-set tiebreak to lift the trophy.

Rafael Jodar vs Nikolai Budkov Kjaer Prediction

Both players are in hot form, but I’m impressed with how Budkov Kjaer finally solved the Landaluce riddle with an all-out attacking display, firing 20 winners. He’ll also be looking to exact revenge for losing out in the US Open junior final last year against Jodar.

Nur Said's Pick: Budkov Kjaer in five sets