By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 18, 2025
Photo: BNP Paribas Nordic Open Facebook
Under the roof of Stockholm, Casper Ruud it shows the high ceiling of the strong court.
Ruud made a stinging first serve by beating Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 to play in his 26th career Stockholm Open final.
Second-seeded Ruud served 65 percent, conceded just seven first-serve points and saved four of five break points to defeat Shapovalov for the third time in four meetings.
Former world No. 2 Ruud improved to an ATP-best 10-1 indoors this year by avenging his only indoor loss to then-54th-ranked Shapovalov in the Dallas final.
This is Ruud’s eighth career hard court final.
The two-time French Open finalist will go for the second hardcourt crown of his career, and first since 2021 in San Diego, when he faces Hugo Humbert in tomorrow’s final.
Top-seeded Holger Rune suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon and was forced to retire while leading Humbert 6-4, 2-2 in today’s opening semifinal.
“It’s a shame about Rune and I want him back soon,” Humbert said afterwards. “He played better than me and I don’t want to talk too much about the final. It wasn’t the way it should have been.”
Fourth-rounder Humbert is 3-2 lifetime against Ruud, including winning both of their previous meetings on hard court. The Stockholm final will be their first meeting on a difficult pitch in almost five years.
