Casper Ruud, an eternal second in the big tournaments, will have a new chance to win the best title of his career in the final in Madrid against Jack Draper, the rising British tennis star, titled at Indian Wells.
An unprecedented final between the two players, who will meet on Sunday for the first time.
On the one hand, the Norwegian, a former world N.2 N.2 today fell in 15th place, has twelve titles to his record, of which eleven on his favorite surface the clay, but he failed during the biggest events: Roland-Garros in 2022 and 2023, against Rafael Nadal then Novak Djokovic, but also in the finals of a third Grand Chelem, 2022, and two Masters 1000 in Miami in 2022 and Monte-Carlo in 2024.
“Last year, I arrived in Monte-Carlo by playing a good tennis before the final I ended up losing. If you look at this year, I have not played as well as in 2024 and I am back in another final. If I were to win, it would be a bit ironic. I hope the third will be the right one,” said the Norwegian.
On the other, Jack Draper. The 23 -year -old left -hander will join the top 5 on Monday for the first time. The latest left -handed to have reached this level was Rafael Nadal in 2003.
It relies on an aggressive game, a big forehand and a powerful very effective service on the beaten earth, coupled with very good trips. Braked younger by injuries, he was a finalist this season in Doha and winner of the Masters 1000 of Indian Wells in March.
– Draper, “one of the best” –
“I’m not just a guy who does big services and can hit a big winning blow. I can do everything on the field and that’s what all the best players are able to do,” said the Briton.
In his semi-final, Casper Ruud beat Francisco Cerundolo (21st) in two sets 6-4, 7-5, where realism was the key to the match. He was clearly missing at Argentinian – three Break balls converted out of 18 – which cost him the match, like the game at 2-2 in the second set, during which the Norwegian pushed 7 break balls before taking control of the game.
-The continuation was an alternation of breaks and Débreaks, Ruud and Cerundolo being unable to keep their service. Led 6-5, at 30-40, the Argentinian committed yet another direct fault which offered victory to the Norwegian.
Small fright at the start of the game: Ruud seemed embarrassed and was manipulated with the upper back for several minutes by a physiotherapist during a dead medical time at 2-1.
“I felt something on a coast to warm up. I felt it almost on each time, especially in the service,” said the Norwegian.
“As the match progressed and the pain relievers had effect, I felt better. I suppose it is a good sign. According to the sensations, there should not be too much worries for Sunday,” he added.
Casper Ruud now has 124 victories on clay (35 defeats), more than any other active player in the ATP circuit.
In the other match of the day, Jack Draper dominated in two sets 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) the Italian Lorenzo Musetti, against whom he has never lost in four confrontations.
The Briton was much more conquering at the start. Nervous, Musetti did not make the best match of his tournament, despite a late awakening.
“Playing a left-hander that is well used when you are right-handed with a setback with one hand is not easy. At the moment, it is really one of the best players on the circuit,” said the finalist of the last Monte-Carlo.
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