In a remarkable display of tennis excellence, Casper Ruud clinched the BNP Paribas Nordic Open title in Stockholm, marking a historic moment as the first Norwegian to do so. Facing off against Ugo Humbert in the final, Ruud showcased his skill and precision, claiming victory with a commanding scoreline of 6-2, 6-3 in a mere 66 minutes.
Ruud, who was the tournament’s second seed, demonstrated his dominance by dropping only three points on his serve throughout the match. With 22 winners and 12 unforced errors, he managed to maintain control without ever facing a break point against him. Following his impressive performance, Ruud expressed his admiration for Humbert. “I would like to congratulate Ugo for his week and sorry about today. I think I played the best match of the year against you; so I am sorry. I am really happy but sorry, Ugo,” he noted after lifting the trophy, which represents his 14th career title.
Reflecting on the high stakes of their matchup, he acknowledged the rivalry they share, stating, “I know that against you, if I don’t play well, you will destroy me. So I knew I had to wake up and play well.” This victory further solidified the balance in their head-to-head encounters, with both players now having won three matches against each other.
Ruud did not hide his joy at winning in Stockholm, a venue steeped in tennis history. “It is a little bit of a childhood dream as it is close to Norway and all the legends have played here in the past—Federer, Nadal, Borg, McEnroe, you name it. So it is an honour to get a title here,” he expressed.
This win in Stockholm adds to Ruud’s 2023 accolades, making it his second title of the year, following his triumph at the Masters 1000 event in Madrid last April. His performance also places him in contention for a spot in the upcoming ATP Finals scheduled next month in Turin, though he currently sits in 11th place in the rankings, 745 points behind the final qualifying position held by Lorenzo Musetti.
On the opposite side of the court, Humbert, who had reached the final after top seed Holger Rune was forced to withdraw during their semi-final match due to a foot injury, fell short in his quest for a seventh Tour title. Rune, leading 2-2 in the second set when he had to retire, later shared his injury update with fans, detailing the severity of his condition: “It’s gonna be a while before I can step on court again. It’s tough. I had so much joy on court in Stockholm, and it’s unbearable to think that I will not feel this energy for some time now. My Achilles is fully broken at the proximal part, meaning I need an operation already next week, and from here, rehabilitation.”
The 22-year-old Dane had aspirations of qualifying for the ATP Finals but, unfortunately, this injury has prematurely concluded his season. As Ruud celebrates his victory, the tennis world watches closely, with both players figuring prominently in the discussion surrounding the upcoming tournaments.
