![\"Dino](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/nextinline-inside-my-game.jpg\")
<\/p>\n Next In Line
\n Problem solvers, big hitters & fast learners: Inside the Prizmic, Budkov Kjaer & Tien games<\/p>\n
Tien, Prizmic and Budkov Kjaer give insight into their games<\/p>\n
December 10, 2025<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Dino Prizmic, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and Learner Tien will compete in Jeddah in December.
\n By Sam Jacot<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
For Prizmic, a breakthrough didn\u2019t 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 \u201ca very tough moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you just need to play your game and be focused on how you need to play,\u201d Prizmic explained. \u201cThe result will come.\u201d<\/p>\n
The biggest leaps in Prizmic\u2019s level have been physical but he also has a music-fuelled process on match days: <\/p>\n
\u201cMy 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\u2019s it. It has worked so far this year overall.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone watching me for the first time can expect a modern tennis game,\u201d Budkov Kjaer told ATPTour.com in October. \u201cA powerful serve, fast balls from both sides. I try to bring energy to the court, we\u2019re in the entertainment business.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0His 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\u2019t a moment, it\u2019s a cycle.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to improve all areas of my game,\u201d Budkov Kjaer admitted. \u201cTennis is a continuous improvement process. I think all the best players always reinvent their game, maybe especially after losing and learning.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cCasper [Ruud] has always inspired me,\u201d Budkov Kjaer said. \u201cHe proved that it\u2019s possible to come from a small tennis country like Norway and achieve great things.\u201d<\/p>\n You May Also Like: Journey to Jeddah: Your complete guide to the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF<\/a><\/p>\n Where Prizmic thrives in clarity and Budkov Kjaer thrives in power, Tien thrives in thought.<\/p>\n \u201cI really enjoy the tactical aspect,\u201d Tien told ATPTour.com. \u201cYou go out with a game plan and you adapt from the first point. You\u2019re problem-solving around what the other guy is giving you, and he\u2019s doing the same to you. I think that\u2019s really fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Tien, a Tour-level champion in Metz and a finalist in Beijing, doesn\u2019t overwhelm opponents with sheer force; he outthinks them.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m someone who often blows people off the court,\u201d said Tien, who is at a career-high No. 28 in the PIF ATP Rankings. \u201cBut I do a great job of adapting and problem-solving.\u201d<\/p>\n His improvements, particularly in his forehand and serve, have come through \u201ca little bit of work each day\u201d that compounds over time. And when it comes to match preparation, he aims for simplicity and calm.<\/p>\n \u201cPreparation is done before tournaments,\u201d Tien explained. \u201cDuring events, it\u2019s just maintaining what you have. I don\u2019t like thinking too much before matches, sometimes that stresses me out. I just keep things simple.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike many rising stars, Tien doesn\u2019t model himself after a specific player. Instead, he absorbs bits and pieces from everyone around him.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no ego about acknowledging other players\u2019 strengths and trying to take what I can,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n This is the seventh feature of our Next Gen ATP series Next in Line. Read our other stories here: \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Next In Line Problem solvers, big hitters & fast learners: Inside the Prizmic, Budkov Kjaer & Tien games…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":625656,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4105],"tags":[79,1068,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-625655","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tennis","8":"tag-sports","9":"tag-tennis","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115699350342752029","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=625655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625655\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/625656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=625655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=625655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=625655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/strong>
\nWimbledon dreams, Nishikori\u2019s run & Vinci\u2019s courtside lessons: Next Gen stars share memories
<\/a>
\nNext Steps: How Tien, Basavareddy & Engel are making the leap
L<\/a>earning from Legends: Nadal, Cilic & Ram inspiring #NextGenATP stars<\/a>
Fuel for the future: Inside the mindset of the best youngsters<\/a>
The voices driving Landaluce & Cina to the top<\/a>
The Fierce Feuds lighting up the latest Next Gen wave<\/a><\/p>\n