Casper Ruud is still in Madrid. Photo: Joan Monfort / AP / NTB
Of NTB | 27.04.2024 23:13:02
Sport: The Norwegian won the match on the Spanish clay with the set numbers 6-4, 6-1. He thus continues his good form after the victory in Barcelona last weekend.
Ruud then took his biggest title of his career to date in the tournament which is at ATP 500 level. The tournament in Madrid is a notch more prestigious at its 1000 level. Ruud reached the semi-finals in Madrid in 2021. Last year there was an exit in the second round.
British Cameron Norrie awaits in the next round, who beat Brazilian Joao Fonseca 6-1, 6-4.
– I really enjoy being on the gravel, it’s my favorite time of the season. Now we are back on the gravel in Europe and I like that. It wasn’t easy today. It was a bit of a bumpy start and it took time to get used to it. I am satisfied with the performance, said Ruud after the victory.
Kecmanovic won the first two matches against Ruud at ATP level. It was indeed back in 2019. A lot has happened for Ruud since then, and last year Kecmanovic was beaten in the final in Estoril.
– There is a lot of weakness from Casper initially. He makes bucketloads of unforced errors, said TV 2 commentator Sverre Krogh Sundbø.
After a weak opening, the Norwegian woke up and won four straight games, but was broken back immediately afterwards. Ruud nevertheless got a small grip on the match and won the first set 6-4.
The second set started like the first in which the duelists broke each other several times. Ruud eventually got himself together and took the lead 4-1. He did not give up that lead on his way to victory.
The Norwegian has played two finals in a row on the ATP tour (Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona). Both times, Stefanos Tsitsipas has been an opponent, but that doesn’t happen in Madrid. The Greek retired in the second round after losing to Thiago Monteiro (Brazil).
In Saturday’s match, the Norwegian was broken in his first service game and struggled to put his opponent under pressure.
Ruud is the fifth seed in the tournament after world number one Novak Djokovic does not compete. The Norwegian is number six in the world ranking after a lot of climbing this season.
(© NTB)