Aleksandr Shevchenko, a qualifier from Kazakhstan ranked 107th, achieved a significant victory over the second seed and defending champion, Casper Ruud, with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3, in the round of 16 at the Stockholm Open on Wednesday.
Shevchenko will face Tirante in his next match, an opponent he has never encountered on the tour.
Shevchenko’s Path to the Quarterfinals
This match marks the 11th quarterfinal of Shevchenko’s career and his third of the season, following those in Adelaide and Gstaad. Prior to this victory, his only win against a top 50 player this season was against Ben Shelton, who was ranked 9th at the time, during the Miami Masters 1000.
Ruud had won their two previous encounters, at Bastad in 2023 and at Indian Wells in 2026.
Shevchenko’s Journey in Stockholm
Shevchenko began this week with qualifying matches, defeating Norwegian Viktor Durasovic 6-1, 6-1, and then British player Jacob Fearnley 6-2, 6-4. He subsequently eliminated Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the first round with a score of 6-1, 6-3 in 1 hour and 10 minutes.
It was reported on Wednesday that former player Ernests Gulbis has become his coach, as Gulbis was seen attending a match in Stockholm.
Shevchenko, whose highest career ranking is 45th, achieved in February 2024, reached his only ATP final in Metz in 2023, where he lost to Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-3. The fourth seed, Alejandro Tabilo, is the highest-ranked player still in contention in the adjacent section of the draw, eyeing a potential semifinal.
Results from the Second Round of the 2026 Stockholm Open
Taylor Fritz (1) d. Cameron Norrie 7-5, 6-3
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Holger Rune
Lorenzo Musetti (3) d. Toby Samuel (Q) 6-1, 6-4
Ugo Humbert (7) d. Borna Gojo (Q) 6-2, 6-4
Alex Michelsen (6) d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-2
Alejandro Tabilo (4) d. Lorenzo Sonego (Q) 7-6 (2), 6-7 (7), 7-5
Thiago Agustin Tirante d. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (5) w/o
Aleksandr Shevchenko (Q) d. Casper Ruud (2) 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3
In bold: today’s results.