Stockholm
Emotional Departure: Rune Shocks Fans with Retirement in Stockholm SF Against Humbert; Ruud Advances to Final
The Dane stopped play, clutching his left leg while in the lead at 6-4, 2-2
October 18, 2025
Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images
Holger Rune during a changeover in his semi-final showdown against Ugo Humbert in Stockholm.
By ATP Staff
Holger Rune was visibly distraught as he received assistance from a physio while exiting the court during his semi-final at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open on Saturday.
Leading 6-4, 2-2 against Ugo Humbert, Rune suddenly experienced a sharp pain in his left leg and was compelled to retire after one hour and 23 minutes of play.
Upon pulling up, Rune cast a worried glance at his box, tears welling in his eyes as he sought treatment. Regrettably, he could not continue and required help to leave the court.
The Danish player was the reigning champion in Stockholm as of 2022 and seemed poised to secure a sixth straight win against Humbert. The Frenchman now turns his focus to Casper Ruud in the final on Sunday.
“This isn’t how I wanted to advance,” Humbert shared. “I feel very disappointed for Holger, and I sincerely hope he recovers quickly. The match was intense; he was slightly outplaying me, and I truly feel for him.”
Watch Rune being assisted off the court
Currently ranked 12th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, Rune is making a determined effort to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time since 2023. Meanwhile, Humbert looks forward to his 10th ATP Tour final, and his sixth on indoor hard courts.
In the other semi-final, Casper Ruud bested Canadian Denis Shapovalov with a score of 6-3, 6-4, securing his place in the final after 80 minutes of play. The Norwegian had previously triumphed over Sebastian Korda in three sets and displayed a masterful performance against Shapovalov, winning 83% of his first-serve points, as reported by Infosys ATP Stats.
Ruud ranks 11th in the Live Race with 2,660 points, trailing eighth-place Lorenzo Musetti by 825 points. The 26-year-old, aiming for his fourth appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, boasts the most indoor wins (10) of any player on Tour this season.
This year, he reached the final indoors in Dallas but fell to Shapovalov. The World No. 12 currently leads their head-to-head series 3-1.
