Nineteen-year-old Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjær defeated Frenchman Hugo Gaston 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 in the Cincinnati Open 2026 qualifying semifinals. On the outdoor hard courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, the two players produced an intense three-set contest that Budkov Kjær ultimately deserved to win.
Gaston outclassed in the opening set
The first set went convincingly to Budkov Kjær. The Norwegian dominated on serve and gave Gaston — seeded tenth in qualifying — almost no foothold in the match. Budkov Kjær held serve in 79 percent of his service games and converted his break points with clinical efficiency, wrapping up the set 6–2. Gaston won 74 percent of first-serve points on his own delivery, but struggled badly on return: he claimed just 26 percent of points when his opponent served first.
Gaston fights back as Budkov Kjær battles errors
The second set was a different story. Gaston raised his level, defended break points more effectively and took his own chances when they came. He levelled at 6–3, forcing a deciding set. Gaston also benefited from a marked increase in unforced errors from his opponent — Budkov Kjær racked up 52 unforced errors across the entire match, a high total that highlighted his inconsistency despite an ultimately convincing performance.
Budkov Kjær seals it in the deciding set
In the deciding set, Budkov Kjær showed why he is regarded as one of Norway's brightest talents. The Norwegian — who won the Wimbledon junior title in 2024, becoming the first Norwegian to claim a Grand Slam singles title at junior or professional level — let his aggressive game do the talking. He converted 57 percent of his break points across the match and saved 63 percent of the break points Gaston created. At 4–4 in the third set, Budkov Kjær produced the decisive moments and closed out a 6–4 victory.
Budkov Kjær won 51 percent of all points and 56 percent of all games — tight but clear margins that reflect the nature of this match. Four aces and 19 winners underlined his attacking credentials on hard court. Gaston, who failed to hold a single service game without dropping points and did not strike a single ace, fell well short of his best throughout. Budkov Kjær now advances to the qualifying final and stands one win away from the Cincinnati Open 2026 main draw — the most prestigious hard-court event in the lead-up to the US Open.
