ATP Tour

Tien tops Budkov Kjaer, both advance to Jeddah SFs

Learner Tien and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer secured their spots in the semi-finals of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF after a dramatic Friday evening in Jeddah.

Tien, who reached the final last year in Jeddah, defeated Budkov Kjaer 3-4(2), 4-1, 4-2, 4-2 to win the Blue Group with a 2-1 round-robin record and set a semi-final showdown against countryman Nishesh Basavreddy. When Budkov Kjaer won the opening set, that was enough to place him in the last four. With Tien needing either a three or four-set victory to advance, the top seed accomplished precisely that, knocking out Rafael Jodar.

“Not really,” Tien said when asked if he felt any pressure after losing the first set. “It’s a longer format, three out of five, the sets can go by quick… I thought I served pretty well the whole match, I didn’t get broken in the first set and he played a good tie-break. I didn’t feel like I played a bad set, so I wasn’t super worried.

“I think I’m adjusting to the conditions and getting a little bit better day by day, so I’m happy with that. This is my last year here, so I’m really trying to make the most out of it.”

The 20-year-old Tien increased his level as the match wore on and dictated more rallies from the baseline in the latter stages. The lefty protected his second serve, winning 76 per cent (13/17) of those points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, compared to the 19-year-old's 38 per cent (6/16).

Tien, the top seed in Jeddah and heavy favourite entering the week, began the event with a loss to Jodar, who saved four match points to escape the American. Jodar needed any result Friday besides a four-set win from the American to advance. Tien rebounded with wins against Martin Landaluce and Budkov Kjaer, the second Norwegian to compete at the event (Casper Ruud) in its eight-year history. Budkov Kjaer will face Red Group winner Alexander Blockx in the semi-finals.

Earlier, Jodar put aside his friendship with Landaluce, ousting his countryman with a 4-3(7), 4-1, 4-3(2) victory. Blasting 31 winners across the match, Jodar held his nerve when it mattered most, including in the first set when he fended off four set points.

"I'm very happy how I handled the important moments and the pressure moments in this match," said Jodar. "Super happy to get the win here. I've been playing against him for a long time. We are very good friends. We are from the same tennis club, Club de Tenis Chamartin."

With his idol Rafael Nadal in attendance, Jodar again kept his cool in the fourth-set tie-break to avoid any late drama.

“Rafa has been my idol for a long time, since I was very young,” said the teenager. “I used to watch all of his matches. He was my role model in tennis. I’m super happy that he was here. It means a lot that he came to Saudi Arabia to watch this tournament.”

Jodar was also watertight behind his second serve, having won 92 per cent (12/13) of his second-serve points, according to the Infosys ATP Stats.