Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images

Jacob Fearnley replaces injured Tommy Paul at Stockholm Open after recovery from rib issue

Originally posted on HITC | By Max Kilham | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 3:28 PM ET

Defending champion Tommy Paul has decided to withdraw from the 2025 Stockholm Open, still struggling to get over a series of injuries.

Paul first picked up an abdominal injury in the French Open second round, before later damaging a tendon in his foot at Wimbledon.

He came back for the Cincinnati Open, but then had another setback during his third-round match against Alexander Bublik at the US Open.

The American also pulled out of the Shanghai Masters, and there’s no clear timeline yet for when he might return.

Jacob Fearnley to feature at the Stockholm Open

Since his second-round exit to Alexander Zverev at the US Open, Jacob Fearnley has been sidelined with a rib injury. This setback kept him out of Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Poland and also ruled him out of the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai.

However, he seems to have put those issues behind him and is currently back on court, playing in a Challenger tournament in Roanne, France.

Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images

Fearnley will make his ATP Tour return in Sweden, stepping into Tommy Paul’s place at the Stockholm Open after the American withdrew due to injury.

The draw has also seen two special exemption spots removed, opening up places for Bosnia’s Damian Dzumhur and America’s Aleksandar Kovacevic to join the field in Stockholm.

Jacob Fearnley picks up win in first match back from injury

Jacob Fearnley made a strong return from injury, winning his opening match at the ATP Challenger event in Roanne, France.

The 24-year-old top seed came from a set down to defeat Frenchman Luca Van Assche 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Fearnley will face Swiss player Dominic Stricker in his next match on Wednesday.

The Roanne Challenger field also includes Pablo Carreno Busta, Jordan Thompson and former junior Wimbledon champion Nicolai Budkov Kjaer.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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