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First-round competition in Stockholm continues on Tuesday with a family affair featuring Elias Ymer and Mikael Ymer. Another matchup is a tale of two different generations, as Marin Cilic goes up against Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.
(WC) E. Ymer vs. (WC) M. Ymer
The Ymer brothers will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers and for the first time in a decade when they clash in round one of the Nordic Open on Tuesday. Elias has won both of their previous encounters; 6-4, 7-5 at a 2014 clay-court Futures event in Sweden and via second-set retirement at a 2015 Challenger event.
It may be seen as bad luck that they are facing each other right away in Stockholm, but the reality is that it’s probably good news for the family. The fact that either one of these guys is going to be in the second round of an ATP-level tournament is borderline ridiculous. Elias, ranked No. 243, is on an eight-match losing streak; he hasn’t won a match since July. Mikael, ranked No. 617 after missing all of 2024 due to a doping suspension, hasn’t won a main-tour match since Wimbledon in 2023. Although none of his recent victories have been good, at least Mikael has been winning at all. He should have the edge on Tuesday.
Pick: M. Ymer in 2
(NG) Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs. Marin Cilic
Cilic turned back the clock with a fourth-round run at Wimbledon this summer, when he upset Jack Draper along the way. The 37-year-old Croat has cooled off in a big way since that result, with a 1-7 record in his last eight matches. Cilic played well during a straight-set loss to Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai second round, so he isn’t entirely hopeless these days.
Up first on Tuesday is an opponent who is a little more than half as old–the 19-year-old Budkov Kjaer. The Norwegian has won 50 matches across all levels this season–including 22 indoors–and is up to a career-high ranking of No. 136. Budkov Kjaer has won four Challenger titles in 2025, three of which have come since mid-July. Look for the youngster to get the best of the veteran in what should be an entertaining matchup.
Pick: Budkov Kjaer in 3
