Stockholm
Rune Dominates the Court: Dane Secures 59 Victories as He Heads to Stockholm SFs
Former champion Rune set to challenge Humbert in Saturday’s semi-final matchup
October 17, 2025
Viktor Enbacka
2022 champion Holger Rune enhances his Stockholm record to an impressive 7-1.
By Jerome Coombe
In a thrilling display of high-stakes tennis, Holger Rune made a dynamic return to the semi-finals at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open on Friday in Stockholm.
The top seed and reigning champion turned around a rocky start—marked by a slew of unforced errors and a concerning late injury—to take down Tomas Martin Etcheverry with a score of 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 at the indoor hard-court ATP 250 event.
Holger shows that resilience pays off! 👊@bnppnordicopen | #bnppnordicopen | @holgerrune2003 pic.twitter.com/EcIR7oXVtA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 17, 2025
Despite committing 19 unforced errors in the opening set and requiring a medical timeout for his left thigh during the final stretch, Rune unleashed 59 powerful winners, marking his third semi-final appearance this season.
“Honestly, I wasn’t feeling great,” Rune admitted regarding his condition. “However, I’m incredibly grateful to have finished the match. It wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support from all of you fans. I faced some serious issues with my left leg, but your energy was truly remarkable.”
As the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin heats up, Rune has fortified his chances to return to the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time since 2023. Sitting 11th in the standings, he remains in contention, though Casper Ruud could steal his spot if he defeats Sebastian Korda later today.
Rune faced a moment of adversity after dropping three consecutive games from a 3-0 lead in the decisive set and needing a medical timeout to receive a major thigh taping. Nevertheless, he rebounded with fearless shots, overpowering the patient Etcheverry to prevent him from achieving his first hard-court semi-final.
The 22-year-old, who claimed his second ATP Tour title in Stockholm last year, now boasts a stellar 7-1 record at the event, according to Infosys ATP Stats. His next challenge will be against fourth seed Ugo Humbert, who previously defeated Lorenzo Sonego 6-7(3), 6-0, 6-3.
Humbert enters this match with an impressive 13 wins in his past 14 indoor matches, including a remarkable journey to the ATP Masters 1000 final in Paris last year and clinching the Marseille title in February. Notably, Rune leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 5-0, promising an exciting clash ahead.
