Landaluce vs Budkov Kjaer Prediction 12/17/2025 Today’s Tennis Picks

World No. 134 Martin Landaluce will face World No. 136 Nicolai Budkov Kjaer in the Blue Group at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17. Here’s our Martin Landaluce vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer prediction. This preview will also include a Martin Landaluce vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer pick.

Martin Landaluce vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer Preview

Martin Landaluce was an alternate at the Next Gen ATP Finals last year, but the Spaniard made sure of an automatic place in this year’s lineup. The 19-year-old produced a solid season, winning his second career title on the Challenger level in Orleans on indoor hard courts.

Landaluce qualified for the Australian Open for the first time back in January and won his first ATP Tour match in Cincinnati. Landaluce has lost two of his last five matches on the Challenger Tour, with his last outing coming in Bratislava in late October, where he lost to Otto Virtanen in straight sets.

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer is also making his debut at the event. The 19-year-old Norwegian compiled 50 wins and 27 losses at all levels in 2025 and won a tour-leading four titles on the Challenger level. Two of those titles were won on indoor hard courts and Budkov Kjaer finished with a 20-8 record on the surface.

Budkov Kjaer sits at No. 136th in the ATP rankings, which is just four spots below his previous best ranking and like Landaluce, is still waiting to break into the top 100. But if both men can play at a similar level and produce high-quality results, it is only a matter of when and not if they will be top 100 players.

Martin Landaluce vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer Head-To-Head

Landaluce and Budkov Kjaer have faced off three times. All three meetings were contested on the Challenger level, and Landaluce holds a 3-0 lead in the head-to-head.

Martin Landaluce vs Nicolai Budkov Kjaer Prediction

Budkov Kjaer is coming off a standout season on the Challenger Tour, but there is no denying that Landaluce was his real kryptonite. The Spaniard defeated him three times, and he pretty much owns this matchup. He doesn’t let rallies sit, and despite coming in with a vulnerable backhand, Landaluce pounds the forehand early and on this surface, it will give him a clear edge.

Nur Said's Pick: Landaluce in five sets