ATP Tour

Budkov Kjaer rises in Next Gen Race, but Balshaw & Kouame stay hungry in Lyon

Nicolai Budkov Kjaer knows what it takes to make a run at the Next Gen ATP Finals, and the 20-year-old is making another late-season push in 2026.

After reaching the semi-finals at the ATP Challenger in Roanne, Budkov Kjaer climbed four places to eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Reggio Calabria. The Norwegian reached the last four on his Next Gen ATP Finals debut last year and is now back inside the qualification spots as he targets a return to the 20-and-under showpiece, which will be held in Italy from 9-13 December.

Budkov Kjaer overcame another Next Gen ATP Finals hopeful during his run in Roanne: 17-year-old Moise Kouame, who has made headlines this year as the youngest player inside the world’s Top 600. The Frenchman is currently the World No. 194 and is competing this week as a wild card at his home ATP 250 event in Lyon.

Felix Balshaw also strengthened his bid to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals with a quarter-final run in Roanne. The 20-year-old Frenchman, whose game features a stylish one-handed backhand, followed that performance by earning his first ATP Tour victory in Lyon on Monday, when he defeated Jaime Faria in three sets.

Balshaw is one of three Next Gen ATP Finals hopefuls in the Lyon main draw, alongside third-placed Martin Landaluce and 10th-placed Kouame. Budkov Kjaer and 12th-placed Jan Kumstat, meanwhile, were unable to progress through qualifying.

PIF ATP Live Race To Reggio Calabria as of 19 October (View Full Standings here)

Rafael Jodar strengthened his grip on top spot in the Live Race by reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Shanghai, while second-placed Joao Fonseca announced that he would miss the remainder of the season due to injury. With fewer than 40 points separating sixth-placed Joel Schwaerzler from Kumstat in 12th, there is plenty of opportunity for the standings to shift in the coming weeks.