By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 19, 2025
Photo: BNP Paribas Nordic Open Facebook
turn right Casper Ruud was running near the side wall when he ripped a fantastic forward pass that went wide Hugo Humbert flies in the air.
Even when pushed into ambiguous positions, Ruud produced outstanding responses.
A dominant Ruud rolled past Humbert 6-2, 6-3 to make history as the first Norwegian to capture the historic Stockholm Open championship.
Delivering what he called his best match of the season, Ruud won 36 of 39 service points in a masterful 66-minute performance.
It is Ruud’s 14th career title and his second hardcourt crown four years after he won the 2021 San Diego Championship.
A tenacious Ruud never allowed Humbert to have much of a say in this final six-match love affair, scoring his first career hard-court win over the French left-hander.
The moment Casper Ruud won his second title of 2025 🤩👏#BNPPParisbasNordicOpen pic.twitter.com/rOdxlhPBMM
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 19, 2025
“Firstly I would like to congratulate Ugo on his week,” Ruud said after winning his second title of the season. “I’m sorry about today. I think I played my best game of the year against you. I’m sorry, but I’m very happy, but I’m sorry Ugo.
“I know against you if I don’t play well, you’ll destroy me. I knew I had to wake up and play well. Of course, I’m very happy to win here in Stockholm.”
Ruud’s dream day fulfilled a childhood goal as he joined Bjorn Borg, Arthur Ashe, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, Roger Federer, James Blake, David Nalbandian, Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin del Potro as Stockholm champions.
“It’s a bit of a childhood dream because it’s close to Norway,” Ruud said. “All the legends have played here in the past: Federer, Nadal, Borg, McEnroe, you name it. So it’s an honor to get a title here.”
A phenomenal week, Casper! 🏆🙌#BNPParibasNordicOpen pic.twitter.com/rldnGaMyU8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 19, 2025
In his previous two hard-court wins over Ruud, Humbert had crossed the baseline and fired his left-hander into the Norwegian’s weaker arm.
Today, the power and accuracy of Ruud’s first hand often pushed the left back, sometimes making Humbert look as comfortable as a man trying to insert a needle while sliding on a block of ice.
The second seed won 16 of his first 18 service points to take a 4-1 lead. Ruud hit 12 winners against just 4 errors in a 29-minute spell that saw Humbert splash 9 unforced errors.
Four games into the second set, Ruud forced the Frenchman into three backhands to break for 3-1.
Hitting a forehand winner down the line to start the fifth game, Ruud hit a backhand volley to seal another love hold for 4-1.
The former US Open finalist won 19 straight service points to start the second set.
In his second point of the championship, Ruud completed a backhand at the finish line and then dropped a huge shot to seal his 14th career title.
Ruud took his record to an ATP-best 11-1 indoors this season in a win that moves him back up to 11th in the rankings.
