Jódar unable to overcome Kjaer and will play for a ticket to the Next Gen Finals semifinals against Landaluce

Carlos Navarro | 18 Dec 2025 | 18.28

Jódar will play for a spot in the semifinals tomorrow. Source: Getty

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Rafa Jódar had a golden opportunity today to secure his spot in the semifinals of the ATP Next Gen Finals 2026. The task was not easy: he was facing one of the best players of the year on the Challenger circuit, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, who had rapidly climbed the rankings with four titles in the second-tier circuit. The Madrid native was somewhat less consistent than in his first match, making a plethora of unforced errors at times to ultimately lose in four sets (4-1, 4-1, 1-4, 4-2). However, his chances to advance to the semifinals remain intact.

This tournament has a format that can punish you for accumulating 10 minutes of poor tennis. With sets played to four games, there is no time for slow starts or cold moments: the margin for reaction is minimal. This was the case for Rafa Jódar, who stepped onto the court with the feeling of not having forgotten his feat against Learner Tien yesterday, adjusting keys and finding the timing with the ball. In the blink of an eye, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, a complete antithesis in his start (solid, error-free, and hitting very deep returns), had already taken the lead on the scoreboard.

The second set was a mirror image of the first, with a very clear difference in returns. While Jódar struggled to be deep and put his opponent's first shots in play, Kjaer anticipated the Madrid player's bombs and denied him many free points with top-level returns. Rafa couldn't find solutions under the watchful eyes of his coaches, and his opponent, exuberant in celebrations but with discernible poise and calm on the court, pulled away on the scoreboard.

Jódar had a very good reaction, but a stretch of errors once again condemned him

The match took a 180-degree turn in the third set, where Rafa started to excel in his returns. Now it was he who delivered dazzling returns, undermining the confidence of a Kjaer who seemed to relax for a moment. The Madrid player's forehand also began to shine, and his combination of return + drive, especially with Kjaer's second serves (he barely hit a first serve in this set), reflected a shift in the match dynamics.

In the fourth set, what appeared to be a clear path to a new and epic comeback dissolved like sugar. The reason? Three consecutive unforced errors from Jódar during a service game, a small blemish that is magnified when your opponent serves like an angel (with consecutive serves, even at 216 km/h) and the format offers no respite. Only a small opening was enough for the Nordic player to secure the fourth set and thus the victory, although not yet the qualification.

Kjaer needed a victory in three sets to be mathematically qualified. The set won by Jódar could have a crucial importance tomorrow, as the outcome of this group is still up in the air. Rafa will play for his spot in the Spanish derby against Landaluce, but he could still be left out in case of a victory (with a three-way tie at two wins)... or he could even lose again and still be in contention (with a three-way tie at one win). Open scenarios and a very important set in a tournament where today the Madrid player was not as clinical as in his match against Tien, but where his undeniable talent (more sporadic on this occasion) was evident and hope remains alive for all Spaniards.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar no puede con Kjaer y se jugará el billete a las semifinales de las Next Gen Finals frente a Landaluce