The 23-year-old Dane is one of two former champions on the course alongside the number two Casper Ruddwinning the title in 2022, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. His run to the semi-finals here last year ended with an Achilles injury that sidelined him for 11 months.
He arrived in Stockholm seeking his third Tour-level victory of 2026, after which beating Hallis and Hurkach to advance to the Basel quarterfinals.
On the eve of the tournament, Rooney told SpilXperten that he took Roger Federer as an example of how to dominate after returning from injury. His comeback against a current opponent required just such victories.
He had also beaten Bergs in their only previous tour-level meeting, in Marseille in 2022, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Bergs, who won his first ATP Tour title in Eastbourne in June, was making his debut in Stockholm and missed out on becoming the first Belgian to win a main draw since Darcys in 2015.
Ketsmanovic stands in Rooney’s way
Ketsmanovic, ranked 64th, let go for one set before defeating world number 58 Rinderknej earlier on Tuesday. The result changed the trend of competition. the Frenchman led them 3-1 head-to-head and won their last meeting in Montreal in August 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4.
The victory took the 27-year-old Serbian’s record in Stockholm to six wins and three losses, and a season record of 16 wins and 25 losses. He last won the Cup at Delray Beach in February 2025, and his career high remains at No. 27, which was first achieved in January 2023.
Rune leads Kekmanovic 3-1. Ketsmanovic won their only meeting in Stockholm 7-6 (3), 6-2 in the last 16 of 2023. Rooney won the next three matches in Basel in 2023, then the Australian Open and Davis Cup Qualifiers in 2025, the latter 6-2, 6-4.
Bybit Stockholm Open 2026 first round results
Cameron Norrie d. James Duckworth 7-5, 6-0
Miomir Ketsmanovich d. Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4
Holger Ruhn d. Zizu Bergs (8) 6-3, 6-4
Toby Samuel (Q) d. Leo Borg (WC) 6-3, 6-2
Borna Gojo (Q) d. Tomasz Macak 6-3, 6-4
Hugo Humbert (7) d. Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-4, 6-3
Alex Michelsen (6) d. Yannick Hanfman 6-2, 6-3
Juan Manuel Cerundolon d. Elias Ymer (WC) 6-1, 7-6 (4)
Lorenzo Sonego (Q) d. Quentin Hallis 6-4, 7-6 (4)
Thomas Martin Etcheverry (5) d. Max Daly (WC) 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3
Thiago Agustin Tirante d. Jaume Munar 7-6 (3), 6-3
Alexander Shevchenko (Q) d. Adrian Mannarino (LL) 6-1, 6-3
In bold. today’s results.