By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 19, 2025
Photo credit: BNP Paribas Nordic Open Facebook
Streaking right, Casper Ruud was running near the side wall when he ripped a fantastic forehand pass that left Ugo Humbert flailing at air.
Even when pushed to obscure positions, Ruud conjured remarkable replies.
A dominant Ruud rolled 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 hard-court crown four years after he won the 2021 San Diego championship.
An assertive Ruud never let Humbert have much say in this final stamping six love holds scoring his first career hard-court win over the lefty French shotmaker.
The moment Casper Ruud claimed his 2nd title of 2025 🤩👏#BNPParisbasNordicOpen pic.twitter.com/rOdxlhPBMM
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 19, 2025
“First I would like to congratulate Ugo for his week,” Ruud said after capturing his second title of the season. “Sorry about today. I think I played my best match of the year against you. Sorry, but I’m really happy, but sorry Ugo.
“I know that against you if I don’t play well you’re going to destroy me. I knew I had to wake up and play well. Of course, I’m really happy to win here in Stockholm.”
Ruud’s dream day fulfilled a childhood goal as he joins 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 a Stockholm champion.
“It’s a little 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 two prior hard-court wins over Ruud, Humbert had straddled the baseline and fired his lefty forehand into the Norwegian’s weaker backhand wing.
Today, Ruud’s forehand power and precision often pushed the left-hander backward sometimes making Humbert look as comfortable as a man trying to thread a needle while slipping on a patch of ice.
The second seed won 16 of his first 18 service points, charging out to a 4-1 lead. Ruud ripped 12 winners against only 4 errors in the 29-minute opener that saw Humbert spray 9 unforced errors.
Four games into the second set, Ruud forced the Frenchman into three netted backhands breaking for 3-1.
Smacking a forehand winner down the line to start the fifth game, Ruud bunted a backhand volley to cap another love hold for 4-1.
The former US Open finalist reeled off 19 service points in a row to start the second set.
On his second championship point, Ruud belted a backhand down the line then threw down a leaping smash sealing his 14th career title.
Ruud raised his record to an ATP-best 11-1 indoors this season in a victory that vaults him back to No. 11 in the rankings.
