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25-year-old captures second title of season
Andrey Rublev captured his second tour-level title of the season on Sunday when he overcame top seed Casper Ruud 7-6(3), 6-0 in the Nordea Open final.

The second seed, who dropped just one set en route to the title, played with explosive power against Ruud, striking the ball cleanly off both wings throughout the one-hour, 33-minute clash. The 25-year-old won 80 per cent (36/45) of his first-serve points, raising his arms in delight after sealing victory on his first match point.

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With his 18th tour-level clay-court win of the season, Rublev improved to 5-2 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Ruud. Rublev has now won all four of the pair’s meetings on clay courts.

The 25-year-old Rublev is up three spots to fourth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin following his title run. He is aiming to make his fourth appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals at the end of the season.

Earlier this year Rublev clinched the biggest trophy of his career when he triumphed at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo.

Ruud was chasing his 11th tour-level trophy and second in Bastad, having won the title in 2021.

Bastad finalists are the top two seeds in Hamburg
On Sunday, Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud battled for the Bastad trophy. One day later, they stood next to each other in Hamburg with big smiles on their faces and, perhaps most importantly of all, a dog.

So is the way of the Tour that in a day, players can turn from opponents to friends, ready to tackle a new tournament. Rublev, Ruud and the latter’s Shih Tzu, Bajas, are now focussed on the Hamburg European Open, an ATP 500.

“It was really great week,” Rublev told ATP Media of his effort in Bastad. “When I saw the draw, I was thinking no way. First of all, no way, what a tough draw. Second, no way, what a tough draw and this is only [an ATP] 250?

“And then the third was like no way, most likely I'm not going to win the title. And then now looking back, [knowing] that I was thinking this and now to know that I won the title, is a really great feeling.”

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It was Rublev’s second ATP Tour title of 2023, having also triumphed in Monte-Carlo. This week, Ruud will try to join his friend by winning his second title of the season. A victory in Hamburg would mark the Norwegian’s first above the ATP 250 level.

“I’m sitting here with 10 titles and all of them being 250s, I wouldn't say it bothers me. But of course, I want to try to seek a bigger title as well, I'm not going to hide that, of course,” Ruud told ATP Media. “That's why we're working hard for, to reach, obviously, big finals, but also trying to win them. That's kind of where you're mostly remembered, winning the finals other than losing them. But yeah, I hope it's just a matter of time, I'm going to continue to work hard.”

Rublev has emerged victorious in Hamburg before, in 2020. That year, they met in the semi-finals. This edition, they could meet in the final.

"It's great to be back. I've been here a couple of times before and always enjoyed. It's a bit colder this year than what it typically is. And I think Andrey and I, we brought the rain from Sweden all the way here today,” Ruud said. “So hopefully the rest of the week is going to clear up and be a good week for everyone.”

Top seed Ruud will begin his tournament against Sebastian Baez, and second seed Rublev will open against Bernabe Zapata Miralles.