Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and Pierre-Hugues Herbert will face off in the qualifications of the Australian Open for the 1st time in their career. They are scheduled to play on Thursday at 1:00 pm on Court 5. Here the head to head stats and relative prediction.
Prediction, odds and live streaming
The pick for Tennis Tonic is Nicolai Budkov Kjaer who should win in 3 sets.
As per the initial odds, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer is the pick to win this match.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer -> 1.43
Pierre-Hugues Herbert -> 2.71
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At the challenger level, there will be free live streaming on Challenger TV.
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Prediction and head to head Nicolai Budkov Kjaer vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert
There is no head to head record between Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and Pierre-Hugues Herbert since this will be the first time that they will clash against each other in the main tour.
Nicolai Budkov Kjaer
| Year | Total | Hard | Clay | I.hard | Grass | Carpet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27-28 | 10-9 | 9-9 | 6-6 | 2-4 | 0-0 |
| 2025 | 52-29 | 7-2 | 18-12 | 24-12 | 3-3 | 0-0 |
| 2024 | 26-11 | 5-5 | 19-5 | 2-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 2023 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Ranked no. 135, Nicolai reached the qualifications after defeating Yosuke Watanuki 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4 and James McCabe 4-6 6-3 7-6(6).
In the qualifications against McCabe, The Norwegian recovered from a 1-set down deficit before winning (4-6 6-3 7-66). During the match, Budkov Kjaer scored 102 points vs McCabe’s 97. The Norwegian was pretty aggressive to blast 48 winners.
Regarding the service games, Budkov Kjaer recorded 9 aces and he committed only 2 double faults. Overall, Nicolai Budkov Kjaer was pretty efficient on serve to win 76% (48/63) of his 1st serve and 56% (20/36) on the second serve. However, this didn’t prevent his to concede the serve twice. The Norwegian broke McCabe twice after converting 20% of his break points (2/10).
Overall Performance in this tournament
Budkov Kjaer started his run at this tournament from the qualifications. In the main draw, he has conceded 2 set in this tournament to conquer 51% of the points he played.
Budkov Kjaer has a solid match record in the last 4 years having won 65% of his matches (80-43). 2-1 on hard in 2026. In connection with his performance on the same surface of this competition, Budkov Kjaer has an aggregate14-8 record in the last 4 years on hard.
The Norwegian has an aggregate 2-1 win-loss record in 2026, 2-1 on hard (See FULL STATS).
Previously at the Australian Open
The Norwegian has never competed in this tournament before.
Pierre-Hugues Herbert
| Year | Total | Hard | Clay | I.hard | Grass | Carpet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17-18 | 5-5 | 5-8 | 5-3 | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| 2025 | 27-27 | 1-5 | 8-11 | 15-8 | 3-3 | 0-0 |
| 2024 | 33-31 | 3-5 | 8-11 | 19-12 | 3-3 | 0-0 |
| 2023 | 26-22 | 2-4 | 5-4 | 16-11 | 3-3 | 0-0 |
| 2022 | 18-15 | 0-0 | 2-5 | 10-7 | 6-3 | 0-0 |
Ranked no. 157, the French player got to the qualifications after defeating Guy Den Ouden 3-6 6-3 6-2 and Gonzalo Bueno 7-5 6-2.
In the qualifications, Pierre-Hugues had a good straight sets win against Bueno (7-5 6-2). During the match Herbert scored 67 points vs Bueno’s 54. The French player was very aggressive to blast 30 winners.
Talking about serving, Herbert bagged 10 aces and he committed only 2 double faults. Pierre-Hugues Herbert conceded no breaks for the entire match to put 61% of his first serves in, win 88% (30/34) of the points behind his 1st serve and 50% (11/22) on the 2nd serve. The French player broke Bueno 3 times after converting 33% of his break points (3/9).
Overall Performance in this tournament
The French player started his run at this tournament from the qualifications. In the main draw, he has conceded 1 set in the tournament to win 55% of the points he played.
Pierre-Hugues has a composed 2-1 win-loss record in 2026, 2-1 on hard (See FULL STATS).
Previously at the Australian Open
Previously, his best result was reaching the 3rd round in 2016 and 2019. See his history.
H2H Performance in the tournament
Matches, sets, games and points
| Points | Budkov Kjaer | Herbert |
|---|---|---|
| Match played | 2 | 2 |
| Tot Set | 6 | 5 |
| Tot Games | 67 | 46 |
| Pts | 221-210 | 142-117 |
| Total Points | 431 | 259 |
| Winners | 111 | 70 |
| %Winners | 50% | 49% |
Both Budkov Kjaer and Herbert played 2 matches. Also both players started their run from the qualifications.Both players lost a set in the event. Nicolai Budkov Kjaer surrendered 2 sets, while Pierre-Hugues Herbert dropped 1 set. Budkov Kjaer has played 1 set more than Herbert (6 vs 5). Therefore, Budkov Kjaer played 21 games more than Herbert. Budkov Kjaer scored 111 winners (50% of the total points). On the other side, Herbert scored 70 winners (49%).
Serve Performance
| Serve | Budkov Kjaer | Herbert |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 18 | 18 |
| Avg per match | 9 | 9 |
| 1st in | 157/225 | 81/128 |
| %1st in | 70% | 63% |
| 1st pts | 111/157 | 70/81 |
| %1st pts | 71% | 86% |
| 2nd pts | 34/68 | 23/47 |
| %2nd pts | 50% | 49% |
Budkov Kjaer bagged 18 aces (9 per match). Herbert made 18 aces (9 per match). Budkov Kjaer won 71% points on his first serve. He extremely effective on his second serve to win 50% of the points. On the other side, Herbert won 86% of the points behind his first serve. He had a solid display on his second serve to win 49% of the points.
How they played the important points
| Breaks | Budkov Kjaer | Herbert |
|---|---|---|
| Won | 7 | 6 |
| Converted | 7/17 | 6/12 |
| % Converted | 41% | 50% |
| Conceded | 16 | 4 |
| Saved | 11 | 3 |
| % Saved | 69% | 75% |
| Times Broken | 5 | 1 |
The Norwegian broke his opponents 7 times with a 41% conversion rate. Budkov Kjaer surrendered his serve 5 times and he saved 69% of the break points that he conceded. The French player broke his opponents 6 times with a 50% conversion rate. Herbert conceded his serve once and he saved 75% of the break points that he conceded.
| Budkov Kjaer | ||||
| Q1 Watanuki |
Q2 McCabe |
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 6-75 7-5 6-4 | 4-6 6-3 7-66 | ||
| Tot Set | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Tot Games | 35 | 32 | 67 | |
| pts | 119-113 | 102-97 | 221-210 | |
| Total points | 232 | 199 | 431 | |
| Winners | 63 | 48 | 111 | |
| %Winners | 53% | 47% | 50% | |
| SERVE | ||||
| Aces | 9 | 9 | 18 | |
| Double Faults | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1st in | 94/126 | 63/99 | 157/225 | |
| % 1st in | 75% | 64% | 70% | |
| 1st pts | 63/94 | 48/63 | 111/157 | |
| % 1st pts | 67% | 76% | 71% | |
| 2nd pts | 14/32 | 20/36 | 34/68 | |
| % 2nd pts | 44% | 56% | 50% | |
| Breaks | ||||
| Won | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
| Converted | 5/7 | 2/10 | 7/17 | |
| Converted % | 71% | 20% | 41% | |
| Conceded | 13 | 3 | 16 | |
| Saved | 10/13 | 1/3 | 11 | |
| Saved % | 77% | 33% | 55% | |
| Times Broken | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| Herbert | ||||
| Q1 Den |
Q2 Bueno |
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 3-6 6-3 6-2 | 7-5 6-2 | ||
| Tot Set | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| Tot Games | 26 | 20 | 46 | |
| pts | 75-63 | 67-54 | 142-117 | |
| Total points | 138 | 121 | 259 | |
| Winners | 40 | 30 | 70 | |
| %Winners | 53% | 45% | 49% | |
| SERVE | ||||
| Aces | 8 | 10 | 18 | |
| Double Faults | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| 1st in | 47/72 | 34/56 | 81/128 | |
| % 1st in | 65% | 61% | 63% | |
| 1st pts | 40/47 | 30/34 | 70/81 | |
| % 1st pts | 85% | 88% | 86% | |
| 2nd pts | 12/25 | 11/22 | 23/47 | |
| % 2nd pts | 48% | 50% | 49% | |
| Breaks | ||||
| Won | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Converted | 3/3 | 3/9 | 6/12 | |
| Converted % | 100% | 33% | 50% | |
| Conceded | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| Saved | 3/4 | 0/0 | 3 | |
| Saved % | 75% | – | 38% | |
| Times Broken | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Head 2 Head
WWWWWWWWWW
WWWWWWWWWW Tennis Scores – Australian Open
- Jaime FariaFaria – Benjamin HassanHassan (6-3 6-4) – See score progression
- Adolfo Daniel VallejoDaniel Vallejo – Federico CinaCina (4-6 6-2 6-3) – See score progression
- Dane SweenySweeny – Jerome KymKym (6-4 6-4) – See score progression
- Liam DraxlDraxl – Vitaliy SachkoSachko (6-3 5-7 7-67) – See score progression
- Kimmer CoppejansCoppejans – Leandro RiediRiedi (3-6 6-3 6-4) – See score progression
- Jason Murray KublerMurray Kubler – Vilius GaubasGaubas (7-5 6-2) – See score progression
- Nishesh BasavareddyBasavareddy – Sebastian OfnerOfner (4-6 6-4 7-611) – See score progression
- Dino PrizmicPrizmic – Gustavo HeideHeide (7-5 6-2) – See score progression
- Dusan LajovicLajovic – Murphy CassoneCassone (7-5 6-3) – See score progression
- Stefano TravagliaTravaglia – Martin LandaluceLandaluce (4-6 6-1 6-4) – See score progression
- Arthur GeaGea – Roman Andres BurruchagaAndres Burruchaga (6-2 6-3) – See score progression
- Marco TrungellitiTrungelliti – Henrique RochaRocha (7-5 4-6 6-3) – See score progression
- Mackenzie McdonaldMcdonald – Hugo GrenierGrenier (7-64 6-1) – See score progression
- Arthur FeryFery – Bernard TomicTomic (6-4 6-2) – See score progression
- Lukas KleinKlein – Daniel Merida AguilarMerida Aguilar (6-3 6-72 6-4) – See score progression
- Alexander BlockxBlockx – Alex MolcanMolcan (6-1 6-1) – See score progression
- Francesco MaestrelliMaestrelli – Thiago Seyboth WildSeyboth Wild (7-62 6-4) – See score progression
- Zachary SvajdaSvajda – Jurij RodionovRodionov (6-1 6-4) – See score progression
- Michael ZhengZheng – Tomas Barrios VeraBarrios Vera (6-4 6-75 6-2) – See score progression
- Giulio ZeppieriZeppieri – Brandon HoltHolt (6-74 7-5 6-4) – See score progression
- Rafael JodarJodar – Chris RodeschRodesch (7-610 6-3) – See score progression
- Martin DammDamm – Titouan DroguetDroguet (6-4 6-3) – See score progression
- Pierre-Hugues HerbertHerbert – Gonzalo BuenoBueno (7-5 6-2) – See score progression
- Elias YmerYmer – Elmer MollerMoller (4-6 6-4 7-5) – See score progression
- Rei SakamotoSakamoto – Colton SmithSmith (6-4 6-4) – See score progression
- Gilles Arnaud BaillyArnaud Bailly – Roberto Carballes BaenaCarballes Baena (7-64 6-73 6-2) – See score progression
- Yibing WuWu – Nicolas MejiaMejia (6-4 6-4) – See score progression
- Luca Van AsscheVan Assche – Daniil GlinkaGlinka (6-3 6-0) – See score progression
- Tristan BoyerBoyer – Francesco PassaroPassaro (6-74 6-4 6-2) – See score progression
- George LoffhagenLoffhagen – Yoshihito NishiokaNishioka (6-3 3-1 ret.) – See score progression
- Nicolai Budkov KjaerBudkov Kjaer – James McCabeMcCabe (4-6 6-3 7-66) – See score progression
- Chak Lam Coleman WongLam Coleman Wong – Pablo Llamas RuizLlamas Ruiz (7-67 6-0) – See score progression
- Arthur GeaGea – Roman Andres BurruchagaAndres Burruchaga (6-2 6-3) – See score progression
- Lukas KleinKlein – Daniel Merida AguilarMerida Aguilar (6-3 6-7(2) 6-4) – See score progression
- Mackenzie McdonaldMcdonald – Hugo GrenierGrenier (7-6(4) 6-1) – See score progression
- Liam DraxlDraxl – Vitaliy SachkoSachko (6-3 5-7 7-6(7)) – See score progression
- Jason Murray KublerMurray Kubler – Vilius GaubasGaubas (7-5 6-2) – See score progression
- Zachary SvajdaSvajda – Jurij RodionovRodionov (6-1 6-4) – See score progression
Upcoming matches in the draw
- Stefano TravagliaTravaglia – Dane SweenySweeny (0-0) – H2H and prediction
- Dusan LajovicLajovic – Francesco MaestrelliMaestrelli (1-0) – H2H and prediction
- Pierre-Hugues HerbertHerbert – (0-0) – H2H and prediction
- Mackenzie McdonaldMcdonald – Liam DraxlDraxl (0-0) – H2H and prediction
- Kimmer CoppejansCoppejans – (0-0) – H2H and prediction
- Elias YmerYmer – (0-0) – H2H and prediction
- Yibing WuWu – Tristan BoyerBoyer (1-0) – H2H and prediction
- Giulio ZeppieriZeppieri – (0-0) – H2H and prediction
- George LoffhagenLoffhagen – (0-0) – H2H and prediction
