Casper Ruud Archives

Not Djokovic, Alcaraz or Sinner – Norrie picks his favourite for French Open glory

April 30, 2024

Cameron Norrie has tipped Casper Ruud as a favourite for French Open glory this summer.

Ruud has enjoyed a tremendous start to the clay season, reaching the final of the Monte Carlo Masters and then winning the Barcelona Open.

His total of 31 match wins this year is more than any other player on the ATP or WTA tours.

“He always does well here in Madrid and he hit his backhand unbelievably well today, I was really impressed,” Norrie told Express Sport.

“I came in there a lot, he passed me a few times and I’m not sure he missed too many backhands today, maybe one in the first game and that’s all I can remember so it was an impressive level from him. And I would say he’s the favourite for the tournament and probably favourite for the French Open as well.”

Ruud had a career-best year in 2022 when he made two Grand Slam finals and was a win away from reaching world No. 1.

He dipped last year but has bounced back impressively this season, even surprising Norrie with how good he has been.

“It was a really good level from Casper, I was impressed with how well he’s he played,” said Norrie.

“Obviously really confident, playing really, really well in Monte Carlo and Barcelona so I was a bit surprised with that and how well he came out. And I took it to him in the second set I was a little bit disappointed with the final game but good lesson.”

Norrie had won his previous meeting against Ruud at the Australian Open at the start of the season.

However, two-time French Open runner-up Ruud was able to return the favour on his favourite surface as he advanced to the last 16.

“I was really prepared for a tough match and it always is, but obviously in Australia I lost so I wanted my revenge as well and kind of happy we’re playing on clay,” said Ruud.

“I’m feeling confident on the surface at the moment and I was playing some good clay-court tennis out there.

“His backhand is very unique, very flat and low, but on the clay it’s maybe not as effective as on hard court where it kind of skids off the ground a little more so I have a little extra time to set up my shots so that kind of was in my favour on this surface.”

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Resurgent Nadal survives three-hour Cachin battle, Norrie crashes out

April 29, 2024

Rafael Nadal’s Madrid Open resurgence continued with a 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3 win over Pedro Cachin on Monday, earning the Spaniard a first Masters 1000 fourth round appearance in two years.

The 37-year-old has now racked up three consecutive wins, his best streak since the US Open in 2022.

He will go on to face No. 30 seed Jiri Lehecka in the last 16 after the 22-year-old edged past Stefanos Tsitsipas’ conqueror, Brazilian Thiago Monteiro.

Nadal came out firing as he broke serve in the opening game of the match.

There was no holding back from the 22-time Grand Slam champion as he ripped his heavy topspin forehand and pulled Cachin around the court.

Cachin fended off two break points in the fifth game with forehand winners, but Nadal was not to be denied and broke to lead 4-1 with a winner down the line.

Nadal closed out an impressive set with another break when Cachin sent a forehand long.

Cachin was in firm control of the second set as Nadal seemed to lose focus, the Spaniard making numerous unforced errors which Cachin quickly capitalised on.

The Argentinian raced to a 4-1 lead in the set, with Nadal growing in frustration as he failed to execute shot after shot.

Cachin caught him off guard several times with some deft drop shots, looking like a completely different player compared to his monotone first set.

But Nadal’s frustration turned to aggression and he upped the ante, turning the 4-1 score to 5-5 and saving two set points.

After a pair of double faults and Nadal missing vital shots, Cachin took his sixth game of the set.

Nadal then raced to 40-0 in the ensuing game and the Argentinian shot wide allowing Nadal to force the tie-break – with the elated Madrid crowd standing and applauding the icon.

Cachin took the first three points in the breaker before a netting allowed Nadal back in with his first point.

The contest was scrappy, with a more confident Rafa putting Cachin on the back foot. But Nadal hit the ball wide for Cachin to take the tie-break and the set, prompting a huge celebration from him.

As he has done time and again in his career, Nadal found an extra gear in the decider and looked incredibly impressive, opening with a scorching cross-court forehand.

At 4-2 the clash had been going on for three hours and was still as back and forth as ever, with Nadal netting twice to give Cachin an important game to make it 4-3.

But the veteran saved his best for last and won the next two games in quick succession, no longer making the mistakes he had in the previous few hours.

Victoy was sealed as Nadal outfoxed Cachin, whose shot went long after the pair exchanged drop shots.

Ruud comfortably dispatches Norrie

Brit Cameron Norrie was eliminated from Madrid by world No. 6 Casper Ruud 6-2 6-4.

Ruud wrapped up the first set in just 31 minutes, his serve being broken in the final game of the match, only for Norrie to net and hand the first set over.

The second set was much closer, with the Brit managing to hold his own as momentum changed hands.

At 4-4 Norrie threatened to take control of the tie, but two straight games from Ruud, in which Norrie could barely lay a finger on the Norwegian, saw him advance to the next round.

Ruud will advance to play Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last 16. The Canadian was leading Jakub Mensik 6-1 1-0 on Monday when the Czech was forced to retire in the second set due to injury.

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Ruud claims first ATP title of season with revenge win over Tsitsipas in Barcelona

April 21, 2024

Casper Ruud defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 6-3 to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday afternoon.

Tsitsipas was looking to build on last weekend’s success, when he continued his campaign to get back into the top 10 of the men’s rankings, and crossed that threshold as he won the Monte-Carlo Masters for the third time in his career.

For Ruud, the final offered not just the chance to win his first tournament of the year so far, but to also get revenge on his opponent after Tsitsipas defeated him in Monaco.

Tsitsipas overcame Dusan Lajovic, while Ruud beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry in their respective semi-final ties on Saturday, but Tsitsipas may not have been as fresh. The Greek player needed to come back from a set down, while Ruud enjoyed a straight-sets victory.

Ruud also needed just two sets to claim the title in Spain as he won the first set 7-5, with a far more reliable service game.

He took 80% of his first serve points compared to Tstisipas’s 57%, and four double faults from the losing finalist hinted at struggles with his serve.

The second set was easier for Ruud as he grew into a more dominant position, breaking twice to secure a 6-3 margin to wrap up his win as he prepares for the upcoming clay Grand Slam at Roland-Garros in June.

The Norwegian was far more consistent from the baseline than his opponent, and the difference in quality took him to his 11th career ATP Tour trophy.

Reflecting on what had changed in a week, Ruud said after the match: “Just to kind of [bring] it to him a little bit more than last week.

“In the final in Monte-Carlo I was always on the back foot, too far behind, and he had too much time to control the game.

“It was a bit of a tricky start [here], I got broken right away. So not the best start, but I managed to settle in and broke him back. Clutched up and broke him in the end of the first, which was huge.

“It’s been two long weeks for both of us. It’s obvious that at some point fatigue is going to kick in. I think we were both fit enough to play today, it’s not about that, but winning the first set was huge probably for either of us.”

The defeat ends Tsitsipas’s winning streak of 10 matches.

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Ruud claims first ATP title of season with revenge win over Tsitsipas in Barcelona

April 21, 2024

Casper Ruud defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5 6-3 to win the Barcelona Open on Sunday afternoon.

For Ruud, the final offered not just the chance to win his first tournament of the year so far, but to also get revenge on his opponent after Tsitsipas defeated him in Monaco.

Ruud also needed just two sets to claim the title in Spain as he won the first set 7-5, with a far more reliable service game.

He took 80% of his first serve points compared to Tstisipas’s 57%, and four double faults from the losing finalist hinted at struggles with his serve.

The Norwegian was far more consistent from the baseline than his opponent, and the difference in quality took him to his 11th career ATP Tour trophy.

Reflecting on what had changed in a week, Ruud said after the match: “Just to kind of [bring] it to him a little bit more than last week.

“In the final in Monte-Carlo I was always on the back foot, too far behind, and he had too much time to control the game.

The defeat ends Tsitsipas’s winning streak of 10 matches.

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Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

April 20, 2024

The Madrid Open will feature the top stars from the ATP and WTA tours.

Carlos Alcaraz has won the men’s title the last two successive years and is bidding to become the first player to win three in a row.

The women’s trophy was won by Aryna Sabalenka as she beat Iga Swiatek in the final.

Who’s playing the Madrid Open this season? Are Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz, Swiatek and Sabalenka playing? When is the draw?

When is the Madrid Open?

The WTA main draw at the Madrid Open starts on Tuesday, April 23 and the ATP main draw starts on Wednesday, April 24.

Play starts at 10am UK time every day until midway through the second week. From May 1 to May 3, play begins at midday UK time, and on finals weekend play starts at 2.30pm.

There are also night sessions running from April 26 to May 3 which start at 7pm.

The women’s final will be held on Saturday, May 4 and the men’s final will be on Sunday, May 5.

When is the Madrid Open draw?

The women’s singles draw will be held on Sunday, April 21 at 5pm UK time and the men’s draw will be on Monday, April 22.

Who is playing the Madrid Open?

The Madrid Open was set to be the first clay event that both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have played since the 2022 French Open – until Djokovic pulled out.

Djokovic has not given a reason for his withdrawal, but his absence means world No. 2 Jannik Sinner will be the top seed.

Nadal will be unseeded as he continues his comeback using a protected ranking.

Carlos Alcaraz’s status is unknown after he missed Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to an arm injury.

The world No. 3 is in Madrid ahead of the tournament, but said last week in Barcelona: “My goal is to try and go to the Madrid Open, but at the moment nothing is certain.

“I was given specific recovery times and I’ve respected them, but I haven’t felt good. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

Alcaraz hasn’t played since losing in the Miami Open quarter-finals.

Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka will headline the women’s draw.

The pair contested the final in Madrid last year and as the top two seeds could meet again with the trophy on the line.

Aryna Sabalenka won Madrid in 2023

Image credit: Getty Images

Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina will be among those looking to challenge for the title, while two-time champion Simona Halep and former runner-up Caroline Wozniacki have both got wildcards.

This will be Halep’s second tournament since returning to the tour after her doping ban was reduced from four years to nine months.

Naomi Osaka is also on the entry list but Emma Raducanu isn’t currently in the draw.

However, as she is not ranked high enough for entry, unless she gets a late wildcard she looks set to miss Madrid.

Djokovic set for Rome return

This is only the third time since 2015 that Djokovic has not won a title by this stage of the season.

The other two times were in 2022, when he was unable to play in Australia or the United States due to being unvaccinated for Covid-19, and 2018, when he had elbow surgery early in the year.

This season he had only played three tournaments before Monte Carlo, losing to Alex de Minaur at the United Cup, Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semis, and then the upset in the third round at Indian Wells against lucky loser Luca Nardi.

It looks like he is next going to play the Italian Open, which starts on May 8, as he builds up for the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympics.

“I want to reach my peak for Paris – that’s where I want to play my best tennis,” said Djokovic in Monte Carlo.

“Anything else is a bonus, so let’s see what happens.”

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Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

April 20, 2024