Casper Ruud's serving prowess shines as he overcomes a shaky start against Marin Cilic in the Stockholm opener | ATP Tour | Tennis
Stockholm
Second seed secures victory over Cilic, setting up Korda's quarter-final at the indoor hard-court ATP 250
October 15, 2025
Peter Hansson
Casper Ruud's tennis prowess was on full display as he bounced back from a shaky start, showcasing a polished serving game to emerge victorious in his return to the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm.
The second seed began his campaign at the indoor hard-court ATP 250 with a commanding 7-6(2), 6-4 win over the formidable Marin Cilic. Despite falling behind 1-4 in the opening set, Ruud's trademark commanding serves and agile movement helped him regain control, improving his season record in opening rounds to an impressive 14-3.
Ruud's triumph, lasting just over an hour and a half, propels him closer to his goal of reaching the Nitto ATP Finals for the fourth time. Currently ranked 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, he will face Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals.
Korda, who earlier defeated Kamil Majchrzak 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in a thrilling two-hour, 33-minute contest, showcased his own serving prowess, dropping just four of 28 points on serve in the final set to earn his 100th hard-court win, becoming the fifth player born in the 2000s to achieve this milestone.
Other notable matches on Wednesday included Lorenzo Sonego's 6-4, 6-2 victory over Arthur Fery, setting up a second-round encounter with Aleksandar Kovecevic, and Marton Fucsovics' 6-1, 6-2 win over Jesper de Jong, earning him a clash with top seed and 2022 Stockholm champion Holger Rune.
