ATP Tour

Problem solvers, big hitters & fast learners: Inside the Prizmic, Budkov Kjaer & Tien games

They arrive on the ATP scene from different corners of the tennis world, but Dino Prizmic, Learner Tien and Nicolai Budkov Kjaer share a common thread. Each has forged early career’s through setbacks, adaptation and a relentless commitment to improvement. Whether through tactical reinvention, rapid physical development or injury recovery, the trio is carving distinct paths toward the top of the game.

For Prizmic, a breakthrough didn’t come with a trophy or a headline moment, it came during an unwanted pause. A wrist injury in 2024 forced the Croatian to the sidelines for months, a stretch he describes as “a very tough moment.”

“When I had injury with my wrist, that was a very tough moment because I stopped with the tennis for a couple of months and after that, we solved that problem and I'm happy to be back and really pleased with what I could do in 2025," Prizmic told ATPTour.com.

Prizmic won a set against Novak Djokovic as a qualifier at the 2024 Australian Open prior to his injury. On his return in 2025, the Croatian captured two ATP Challenger Tour crowns and reached the quarter-finals at the ATP 250 clay-court event in Umag. The 20-year-old, who will make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF later this month, keeps his approach to tactics simple: trust your instincts.

“I think you just need to play your game and be focused on how you need to play,” Prizmic explained. “The result will come.”

The biggest leaps in Prizmic’s level have been physical but he also has a music-fuelled process on match days:

“My legs, my footwork and my backhand have all improved. I also have a good process in place on matches which helps. When I wake up, I put on music, get warm, think how I need to play and that’s it. It has worked so far this year overall."

If Prizmic is defined by simplicity, Budkov Kjaer is defined by energy. The Norwegian will make his debut in Jeddah after winning four Challenger Tour trophies in 2025. The 19-year-old also earned a tour-level win in Bastad.

“Someone watching me for the first time can expect a modern tennis game,” Budkov Kjaer told ATPTour.com in October. “A powerful serve, fast balls from both sides. I try to bring energy to the court, we’re in the entertainment business.”

In the past year, the 2024 Wimbledon Boys' singles champion Budkov Kjaer has leaned into constant refinement. Even his biggest weapon, a serve that once dominated juniors at 125 mph, requires ongoing sharpening at Tour level. His willingness to adjust has already paid off. Mid-season, after working with his father to alter the mechanics of his serve, he surged to three ATP Challenger Tour titles. Reinvention for the 19-year-old isn’t a moment, it’s a cycle.

“I need to improve all areas of my game,” Budkov Kjaer admitted. “Tennis is a continuous improvement process. I think all the best players always reinvent their game, maybe especially after losing and learning."

Access to elite training blocks with top players accelerates that cycle. Practising with the Nitto ATP Finals field in 2024, including warming up Jannik Sinner in Turin, left a lasting impression. And like many Nordic talents, he draws motivation from close to home.

“Casper [Ruud] has always inspired me,” Budkov Kjaer said. “He proved that it’s possible to come from a small tennis country like Norway and achieve great things.”

Where Prizmic thrives in clarity and Budkov Kjaer thrives in power, Tien thrives in thought.

“I really enjoy the tactical aspect,” Tien told ATPTour.com. “You go out with a game plan and you adapt from the first point. You’re problem-solving around what the other guy is giving you, and he’s doing the same to you. I think that’s really fun.”

Tien, a Tour-level champion in Metz and a finalist in Beijing, doesn’t overwhelm opponents with sheer force; he outthinks them.

“I wouldn’t say I’m someone who often blows people off the court,” said Tien, who is at a career-high No. 28 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “But I do a great job of adapting and problem-solving.”

His improvements, particularly in his forehand and serve, have come through “a little bit of work each day” that compounds over time. And when it comes to match preparation, he aims for simplicity and calm.

“Preparation is done before tournaments,” Tien explained. “During events, it’s just maintaining what you have. I don’t like thinking too much before matches, sometimes that stresses me out. I just keep things simple.”

Unlike many rising stars, Tien doesn’t model himself after a specific player. Instead, he absorbs bits and pieces from everyone around him.

“I have no ego about acknowledging other players’ strengths and trying to take what I can,” he concluded.

This is the seventh feature of our Next Gen ATP series Next in Line. Read our other stories here:
Wimbledon dreams, Nishikori’s run & Vinci’s courtside lessons: Next Gen stars share memories
Next Steps: How Tien, Basavareddy & Engel are making the leap
Learning from Legends: Nadal, Cilic & Ram inspiring #NextGenATP stars
Fuel for the future: Inside the mindset of the best youngsters
The voices driving Landaluce & Cina to the top
The Fierce Feuds lighting up the latest Next Gen wave