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Casper Ruud Absolutely Demolished Ugo Humbert, But Is It Enough for Turin?

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Fahad Hamid | Last updated Oct 19, 2025 11:03 AM ET

It’s a good day to be Casper Ruud. It’s a significantly less good day to be Ugo Humbert, who probably feels like he got hit by a Norwegian-powered freight train. Ruud didn’t just win the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm; he put on a masterclass that was so one-sided it was almost uncomfortable to watch. In a brisk 68 minutes, he dismantled Humbert 6-2, 6-3, making it look less like a professional tennis final and more like a practice session where one guy forgot to try.

Honestly, the score doesn’t even do it justice. Ruud was playing a different sport. He was so dialed in that he only dropped a measly three points on his serve the entire match. Three. Most players lose that many points in a single game. He was firing off winners left and right, looking like a man on a mission. Meanwhile, Humbert, who got a free pass to the final after Holger Rune’s unfortunate Achilles injury, probably wished Rune had just played on one leg instead. At least then it might have been a closer contest.

After the match, Ruud delivered what might be the most polite beatdown apology in tennis history. “I would like to congratulate Ugo for his week and sorry about today. I think I played the best match of the year against you, so I am sorry,” he said, which is the tennis equivalent of “Stop hitting yourself.” You have to respect the courtesy, even if it feels a little like rubbing salt in the wound. He wasn’t wrong, though. He knew he had to bring his A-game because, as he put it, “if I don’t play well, you will destroy me.” A bit dramatic, Casper, but whatever gets you motivated.

Was This Ruud’s Best Performance Ever?

Calling it the “best match of the year” might not even be hyperbole. This win marks Ruud’s 14th tour-level title, and his first-ever on an indoor hardcourt. For a guy known as a clay-court specialist, this victory is a massive statement. It proves he’s not just a one-trick pony who shows up for the French Open and then takes a long nap. Winning in Stockholm, a tournament graced by legends like Federer, Borg, and McEnroe, clearly meant a lot to him. He called it a “childhood dream,” and you could see it in the sheer intensity he brought to the court. It was less of a tennis match and more of a declaration of intent.

This wasn’t just a random burst of brilliance, either. This victory gives Ruud the most indoor wins on the tour this year, with 11. It seems the Norwegian has found a new favorite playground, and the rest of the tour should be officially nervous.

The Bigger Picture: A Desperate Scramble for Turin

Let’s be real, while winning a shiny trophy in Stockholm is nice, Ruud has his eyes on a much bigger prize: a spot at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. This is where the big boys play, the end-of-year championship for the top eight players in the world. And right now, Ruud is on the outside looking in.

Despite this dominant performance, he’s still sitting at 11th in the live race. He’s chasing Lorenzo Musetti, who currently holds that coveted eighth and final spot. The gap is a formidable 745 points. It’s a huge mountain to climb with only a few weeks left in the season. Every match, every point, is now critical. This Stockholm title was a crucial injection of points and confidence, but the job is far from finished. Can he pull it off? It’s going to be a nail-biting photo finish. He’s been to the final in Turin before (back in 2022), so he knows what it takes. The question is whether he has enough gas left in the tank to make one last, desperate push.

So, while we can all applaud Ruud for his absolute clinic in Stockholm, the real drama is just getting started. He gave Humbert a day to forget, but now he has to keep that god-tier level of play going if he wants to book his ticket to Italy. No pressure, Casper.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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