By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, October 20, 2025
Photo: BNP Paribas Nordic Open Facebook
Casper Ruud played his best game of the year capturing his 14th career championship in Stockholm.
Now, the former world No. 2 has set his sights on an even bigger goal: Winning a first Grand Slam title.
Two-time French Open finalist Ruud said journalist Nicholas Albek of SpilXperten he believes he can challenge world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and second-ranked Jannik Sinner in Grand Slam play.
“I feel like I haven’t reached my peak yet and I still have more in the tank. I think a match like this shows that I still have more in the tank.” Ruud said to Nikolas Albek. “It’s a different scenario in a Grand Slam with the best of five sets and those things.
“We don’t have a closed Slam, but if I can play this aggressively and with the same conviction on hard court, I think I can challenge the best players in the world.”
Ruud’s serve was a key weapon in his run to the title in Stockholm. Ruud won 36 of 39 service points and created several forehands in his final shot at Ugo Humbert.
Although Alcaraz and Sinner have won eight consecutive Grand Slam championships, Ruud believes that while the world’s Top 2 look invincible, they are not unbeatable.
“That’s what you want to do and of course, we have two guys up front who are sometimes almost unplayable and unbeatable, but at the same time they are also human and there are 40-50 players behind them who want to beat them,” Ruud said. “Sometimes some of them do and I’d like to think that anything can happen.
“But of course, they’ve set themselves apart and proven to everyone that they’re in a league of their own, but that doesn’t stop me from at least believing that they’re also human and some days of the year possible.”
