Ruud’s stellar serving shines in Stockholm debut
Second seed triumphs over Cilic, advances to QF against Korda at indoor ATP 250.
October 15, 2025
By Peter Hansson
Casper Ruud improves to 14-3 in opening-round matches this season.
Authored by Jerome Coombe
Overcoming a challenging start, Casper Ruud dazzled the crowd in Stockholm on Wednesday with a masterful serving performance as he kicked off his campaign at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open.
The second seed launched his journey at the indoor hard-court ATP 250 with a commanding 7-6(2), 6-4 victory against the powerful Marin Cilic. After trailing 1-4 in the first set, Ruud showcased his incredible skills, tapping into his precision serves and signature footwork, boosting his opening-round record to an impressive 14-3 this season.
Striking hot in Stockholm 🔥 @bnppnordicopen | #bnppnordicopen | @CasperRuud98 pic.twitter.com/iEs9Su9W1q
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 15, 2025
“It was a good match, and I’m thrilled with the result,” Ruud commented after the match. “Marin is an exceptional player with a fierce game. He started stronger than I did, but I focused on regaining my rhythm and found my groove. I’m very satisfied with this win.”
Even after a rocky start, Ruud quickly regained control, blending pinpoint groundstrokes with powerful serving to shift the momentum. He held serve to love in four consecutive games during the first set and maintained an impressive streak by winning all 12 first-serve points in the second set, as per Infosys ATP Stats.
This one-hour and 50-minute victory adds momentum to Ruud’s pursuit of a spot in the Nitto ATP Finals for the fourth consecutive year. Currently ranked 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, Ruud prepares to face Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals.
Korda advanced earlier in the day by battling past Kamil Majchrzak in a gripping two-hour, 33-minute encounter, finishing at 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. The American demonstrated remarkable resilience, conceding only four out of 28 points on serve in the decisive third set, marking his 100th win on hard courts and placing him among the elite group of players born in the 2000s to achieve this milestone.
In other first-round matches on Wednesday, Lorenzo Sonego began his quest for a second indoor title by overpowering British qualifier Arthur Fery with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Sonego is set to face Aleksandar Kovecevic next, who progressed after Camilo Ugo Carabelli withdrew due to injury while trailing 4-6, 7-5, 4-0.
Additionally, Marton Fucsovics comfortably defeated Jesper de Jong 6-1, 6-2, paving his way for a showdown with the top seed and 2022 Stockholm champion, Holger Rune.
