As the ATP Tour shifts its focus toward the upcoming Finals in Turin, players scramble to secure vital ranking points during the final stretch of the season. Lower-tier events like the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm, the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels, and the Almaty Open in Kazakhstan are presenting opportunities for players to enhance their standings.
Among the highlights from the opening day in Stockholm is Leo Borg, the 22-year-old son of tennis legend Björn Borg. Competing under a wildcard, Leo marked a milestone by clinching his second ATP Tour victory, overcoming Austria’s Sebastian Ofner with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4. Borg’s performance was not only impressive but also particularly special, as he expressed in his post-match interview.
“This win in Stockholm is extraordinary for me,” he said. “I really stepped up my game, and it was incredible to have the crowd backing me.” With memories of his father’s triumph there in 1980—when he defeated John McEnroe—Borg aims to capture his own title. His upcoming challenge is against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, a formidable third seed and former tournament champion.
Gradually returning from injury, Borg emphasized his desire to prove his worth on the court, stating, “I’ve worked hard to regain my consistency, and today I demonstrated that I truly belong in this arena.” This year, he has primarily played on the ITF circuit, making this victory a crucial stepping stone as he aims to rise beyond his current ranking of 633.
Joining Borg in the next round is British player Jacob Fearnley, who showcased determination in a closely contested match against the fifth-seeded Tallon Griekspoor. Fearnley triumphed with a final score of 6-3, 6-7(6), 7-6(5), marking a significant personal victory after falling to Griekspoor at the same event last year. “It was an intense battle, but I’m relieved to have pulled through,” he commented. Fearnley is set to face one of the Ymer brothers in his next match, adding excitement to his campaign.
The day also featured two additional matches where Miomir Kecmanovic defeated Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-1, while Sebastian Korda edged past Alexei Popyrin with a score of 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3.
In Brussels, Benjamin Bonzi continued his strong form by defeating the towering Reilly Opelka for the second time this season, with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Bonzi, reflecting on the match, noted, “Having faced him recently gave me an edge, but the conditions here were quite different than in Shanghai.” He proved adept at returning Opelka’s powerful serve, a crucial factor in his success.
Marcos Giron also advanced to the second round after defeating Mattia Bellucci, setting up a showdown with the fourth-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Meanwhile, over in Kazakhstan, Gabriel Diallo, last year’s finalist at the Almaty Open, made a strong start by defeating wildcard Amur Omarkhanov 6-3, 6-1. His fellow Canadian, James Duckworth, also progressed, defeating Ugo Blanchet 6-3, 6-4, while other notable results included Fabian Marozzsan’s win over Luca Nardi and Corentin Moutet’s victory against Bernard Tomic.
As the tournament calendar heats up, players are keenly aware that each point can be pivotal in their race to qualify for the end-of-season championships in Turin, making for an exhilarating finish to the ATP season.
