Casper Ruud is getting ever closer to achieving his goal of winning the biggest titles on the ATP Tour
The Norwegian progressed to his third ATP Masters 1000 final on Friday at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he will be attempting to claim the biggest title of his career. On his favoured surface, the Scandinavian beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo (6-4, 7-5) in a scintillating semifinal, fending off the constant pressure on his serve to grind out a win. They say that clay tennis rewards the most tenacious, something that he certainly was today.
With the Manolo Santana Stadium as his witness, Ruud put in a monumental performance. The Norwegian had to deal with an injury problem to get through the match, receiving physio after the third match of the game. However, the issue did nothing to harm his replies to Cerúndolo’s consistent returning, saving 15 of the 18 break points generated by the South American. He was rewarded for his efforts with a key to the Caja Magica final.
“I wasn’t sure I could finish the match”, admitted Ruud. “I felt something in my side during the warm-up, just before I finished, and I could feel it on every shot. It was bothering me, particularly on the serve. Luckily, I got quick treatment. There’s not much you can do, you only have three minutes [with the physio]. I’ll look at it again tomorrow”.
“I’ve taken a couple of painkillers, although that’s not ideal. At the same time, in a situation like this you have to do it sometimes. I could barely go from game to game at that moment. It got better as the match progressed”.
Ruud has been impeccable so far in the Caja Magica, reaching the title bout without dropping a single set. The Norwegian, who has not even required a tiebreak to reach the decider, has left in his wake big names such as Top 10 players Taylor Fritz and Daniil Medvedev.
Sunday’s match will be a chance for Ruud to finally win big on tour. Despite playing in multiple Grand Slam finals (0-3) and ATP Masters 1000 (0-2) without reward, the Norwegian has no shortage of experience at the biggest events in the game. With Lorenzo Musetti or Jack Draper on the other side of the net, bagging a hugely prestigious title now looks like a distinct possibility.
The win means Ruud will also make a move up the rankings. The Norwegian is guaranteed to return to the Top 10 and currently sits at No. 10 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. In the event that he lifts the trophy in the Caja Magica, the Scandinavian could jump as high as seventh position.
For his part, Cerúndolo bowed out on the brink of the biggest final of his career. The Argentinian leaves Madrid as the player with the most clay wins this season (16), a notable return with two big events on the surface just around the corner; the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome and the French Open.
