The BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm witnessed an emotional turn during the semi-finals as Denmark’s Holger Rune was forced to retire due to an injury. Rune, who was leading against France’s Ugo Humbert with a score of 6-4, 2-2, experienced severe pain in his left leg and could not continue after 83 minutes of play. The moment was heart-wrenching as Rune, visibly distressed, looked towards his box while receiving treatment before being assisted off the court.
While Rune expressed a strong performance throughout the match, Humbert acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances, stating, “It was not the way I wanted to win. I’m super disappointed for Holger, I hope he is going to be okay. I wish him a speedy recovery. It was a great match.” Humbert now advances to face Casper Ruud in the final.
Casper Ruud secured his place in the final after a solid performance against Canadian Denis Shapovalov, winning in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4 over 80 minutes. This victory marks Ruud’s third final of the season and solidifies his dominant form on indoor hard courts, where he has secured more wins (10) than any other player this season. Ruud’s successful outing puts him in a competitive position to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, as he currently ranks 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin.
As the tournament progresses, fans will be hoping for Rune’s swift recovery while looking forward to an exciting final matchup between Humbert and Ruud. The atmosphere in Stockholm remains charged as both players aim to seize the prestigious title.