Norwegian tennis ace Casper Ruud continues to show strength on indoor courts after securing the title in the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm. The Norwegian dominated the Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the final and thus became the first Norwegian to win the tournament. But now there are a few crucial weeks ahead of the 26-year-old, where the dream of the ATP Finals in Turin hangs by a thread.
Casper Ruud’s victory in Stockholm was a solid achievement. He beat Humbert 6-2, 6-3 in just 68 minutes, and lost only three points on his own serve throughout the match. It is this type of tennis that made him the top of the world a few years ago, and which now gives him a small hope of qualifying for the last major tournament of the season.
But the road to Turin is steep. At the time of writing, Ruud is ranked 11th in the ATP Finals qualifiers and a whopping 740 points behind Lorenzo Musetti, who holds eighth place – the last of the coveted spots for this year’s season finale.
So far, his season has been characterized by dramatic fluctuations. After his triumph in the Madrid Open in May – his first and so far only Masters 1000 title – the season has been characterized by inconsistency. Fans, bookmakers and bettors alike have experienced this, as the odds have had to adjust according to developments. For those who want to take part in the action, there are many safe betting sites that offer bets on the upcoming tennis matches for Ruud and the rest of the gang. On these sites, you can quickly and easily get started with sports betting, while also taking advantage of good bonuses and promotions to get more out of your betting budget. With only a few weeks left in the season, the Norwegian will need to deliver strong results in the upcoming tournaments to stand a chance, and it could be interesting to take part in this development from a betting perspective.
First on the program is Swiss Indoors in Basel. The Swiss tournament is at ATP 500 level, which means valuable ranking points for the Norwegian. After Basel, the final Masters 1000 tournament awaits in Paris, which runs from October 27 to November 2. These are tournaments where Ruud must perform if he is to have any chance of catching up with Musetti and other competitors in front of him.
The victory in Stockholm was still a sign that Ruud may be on his way back to his best level. With 11 indoor wins this season, the Norwegian actually has the most indoor wins on the ATP Tour in 2025. It is therefore not entirely unrealistic that he can do well in both Basel and Paris, even if the competition will be fierce.
Ruud’s competitors for the last ATP Finals spots will also have to perform, which gives the Norwegian a glimmer of hope. Jack Draper, who is in ninth place, has withdrawn from Paris with an arm injury. Felix Auger-Aliassime will have to defend points from last year’s performances, as will several other players. Holger Rune, who was close to Ruud in the qualifiers, had to withdraw from the Stockholm semi-finals with an Achilles tendon rupture and is out of both Basel and Paris.
For Ruud, it is now about mobilizing everything he has learned over the years and delivering the performances when it matters most. His best result this season – the Madrid title – shows that he has the ability to beat anyone when he plays his best tennis. The question is whether he can do it consistently enough through the crucial weeks remaining of the season.
