The Ruud Awakening!

After Barcelona, Casper Ruud will drop many ranking points and be out of the top ten. His match against Rune today showed what can happen when his biggest weapon begins to falter. Without his topspin FH, he's vulnerable on clay and let's hope he finds his consistency again.
 
I always thought Ruud was way overrated since day 1. His backhand is straight up weak, he has no variety, he is not an elite mover and his serve is just OK. All he really possesses is a really good topspin forehand. The fact that he was able to reach 3 grand slam finals speaks to how lacking the competition was.
 
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Sinner banned, Carlo injured, Djokovic old.

Tsits out, Zed out

Can Ruud finally go all the way? Cant ask for a better chance.

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Although he has dropped to no. 15 in the singles rankings, Casper Ruud has been playing some good tennis this week at the Masters Series 1000 tournament in Madrid. On Tuesday evening the Norwegian, who is the no. 14 seed, beat the no. 3 seed, Taylor Fritz, in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals. In the first set Ruud led 5-3 and served for the set in the tenth game, but was broken after having one set point. However, he broke back immediately before serving out for the set to 30 in the twelfth game.

In the second set Ruud saved two break points in the second game and broke Fritz to 30 at 2-all. This was the only break in the set as Ruud went on to record a 7-5, 6-4 win. In his last four service games he won 16 out of 18 points, an impressive stat. In the quarter-finals Ruud will play Daniil Medvedev. The Russian currently leads their head-to-head 3-0, but they haven't played each other in four years and have never met on clay.
 
An encouraging win for Casper Ruud over Daniil Medvedev in quarter-final action in Madrid earlier on Thursday. The Norwegian won 6-3, 7-5 without dropping serve for his first victory over the Russian in four attempts. In the semi-final Ruud will take on Francisco Cerundolo, a familiar opponent who leads their head-to-head 5-3, although they are 2-2 on clay.
 
Casper Ruud beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-5 to reach the final in Madrid earlier on Friday. Although the Norwegian won in straight sets, there was a lot of tennis in the match and at times the form of both players dipped enough for it not to be a classic. But it was certainly exciting and engrossing. If Ruud had served better, he might well have won quicker, but he often couldn’t find his first serve, while at other times he made some poor shot choices, such as rushing to the net only to be passed.

However, Ruud saved more than a dozen break points in the match, including three in the very first game, no less six at 2-all in the second set and, crucially, three in a row from 0-40 at 5-all in the same set. This showed great character and no doubt contributed to his opponent’s frustration. The Norwegian has thus reached his third Masters Series 1000 final, after Miami in 2022 and Monte Carlo in 2024. Can he finally win one?
 
This semi was a tough one, with Ruud using all his experience and guile to get through. And while I agree his net-rushing was at times, a poor choice, I was glad to see him take a few chances. He did hit some great volleys at critical moments and faced down some break points at net. Both Ruud and Cerundolo choked at times, but both played with heart and urgency, knowing what an opportunity this was. Ruud and his team know that chances to win a MS1000 are rare and being on clay, this is one of his best chances.
 
He's now in his 7th big final, and for probably the first time he's the runaway favorite and the more experienced player.

Huge confidence booster opportunity right here for him.
 
Cabeza del Demonio said:
He's now in his 7th big final, and for probably the first time he's the runaway favorite and the more experienced player.

Huge confidence booster opportunity right here for him.
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I wouldn't consider Ruud the "runaway favorite" against Jack Draper. As the new #5 ranked player with a dynamic LH game, I rate Draper as the prohibitive favorite in the final. But Ruud has the tools, guile and game to turn the tables and we'll see what kind of creativity Team Ruud can create for this match.
 
I think Draper has the better form. But you know Casper is licking his chops to get the doubters off his back about taking home a “big” title.
 
dkmura said:
I wouldn't consider Ruud the "runaway favorite" against Jack Draper. As the new #5 ranked player with a dynamic LH game, I rate Draper as the prohibitive favorite in the final. But Ruud has the tools, guile and game to turn the tables and we'll see what kind of creativity Team Ruud can create for this match.
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Draper is favourite, despite his rather weak results on clay. Putting money on Ruud might be a good bet here...
 
Very tough, but interesting final. Ruud pulls it out in the third and his work in redefining his game was on full display. Some very brave points and the momentum seemed to swing both ways throughout the three sets. I was glad to see Casper Ruud take some chances and overcome his own limitations to take this victory. He's reestablished himself as a contender for Roland Garros at the same time.
 
In winning 2025 Madrid, Ruud wins his 13th ATP singles title, 1st this season and 1st at Masters 1000 level. He becomes

1. The 1st player from Norway to win a Masters 1000 title.
2. 1 of 22 active players to win at least 1 Masters 1000 title.
3. 1 of 83 players to win at least 1 Masters 1000 title since the series began in 1990.
4. 1 of 22 active players to win at least 1 big title (ie. Slams, WTF, Olympics, Masters).
5. The 3rd player to win his maiden Masters 1000 title this season (after Draper and Mensik).
 
Finally Casper gets his first Masters title. Although he was 0/6 in big titles prior to the final, this time it was different. In all other finals he was big underdog (except maybe Tsits at MC). To me he was slight favourite in this final, although the bookies said otherwise.

I and many others have doubted Ruud and been critical about his choices many times, but he has continued down the path he thought was right. Seems Casper proved us wrong again, ill try not to doubt him again.

Great win! If Alcaraz fails i believe he also has chances at RG.
 
A successful return to competition for Casper Ruud earlier on Saturday at the Italian Championships in Rome, where he is the no. 7 seed. The Norwegian's second-round opponent was Alexander Bublik, who has slipped to no. 75 in the rankings, but is still a dangerous proposition.

Ruud won the first set 6-4, but fell a double break behind in the second set at 1-5. At 2-5, the Norwegian saved two set points, but at 5-4 Bublik held to 30 to take the set. In the final set Ruud broke serve in the sixth game, then held to lead 5-2. Bublik managed to save two match points in the next game, but Ruud served out to 15 in the ninth game for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

In the third round Ruud will face the no. 29 seed, Matteo Berrettini, who is sure to have most of the fans behind him. Ruud leads their head-to-head 4-3 and is 3-1 against the Italian on clay.
 
This upcoming second round match is intriguing, with Berrettini having the Italian crowd support and Ruud still riding the momentum from his previous wins. Both have atomic forehands, reliable two-handed backhands and better volleys and net games than most would believe. What will be the difference maker? In the Bublik match, it seemed the serve was the deciding factor, at least until Casper started figuring it out and putting some pressure on the Kazak's service games.
 
dkmura said:
This upcoming second round match is intriguing, with Berrettini having the Italian crowd support and Ruud still riding the momentum from his previous wins. Both have atomic forehands, reliable two-handed backhands and better volleys and net games than most would believe. What will be the difference maker? In the Bublik match, it seemed the serve was the deciding factor, at least until Casper started figuring it out and putting some pressure on the Kazak's service games.
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I think Berry will be pretty easy for Ruud. Berry isnt in the best form and has dont nothing on clay. Bublik was overplaying out of his mind in that second set, Ruud didnt play bad.
 
dkmura said:
This upcoming second round match is intriguing, with Berrettini having the Italian crowd support and Ruud still riding the momentum from his previous wins. Both have atomic forehands, reliable two-handed backhands and better volleys and net games than most would believe. What will be the difference maker? In the Bublik match, it seemed the serve was the deciding factor, at least until Casper started figuring it out and putting some pressure on the Kazak's service games.
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First of all it is not a second round match but third, then i would say Berrettinis volleys and feel for the ball is above average on the ATP, whereas Ruuds volleys and feel is below average on ATP. Ruud will still probably win as he is very tough mentally and very fit, allthough his game is very boring to me, and he has a strange way of making the matches boring, as well as making the opponent play bad too...
 
Anti-climactic end to the Berrettini-Ruud match today. 7-5, 2-0 (ret) and my guess is a low back sprain for Matteo; whose injury-plagued career has struck once again. A good competitive match through the first set and it seemed Matteo was ready to pour it on when he was forced to quit. A very classy gesture from Casper at the end of the match when he used the magic marker to write "Sorry Matteo, feel better" on the TV lens.

Next round, he plays the surging Jamie Munar in another good clay matchup.
 
Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar have previously met five times, including twice already this year. The Norwegian leads their head-to-head 4-1, but their two encounters earlier this year both went the full distance. Their last match, in the semi-finals in Dallas in February, ended in a 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(4) victory for Ruud. That was on a hard (cement) court. On clay, the Norwegian is 2-0, but they haven't played on that surface in nearly three years. Heavy rain on Tuesday in Rome means their match has been postponed until Wednesday. Weather permitting.
 
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Casper Ruud was rarely threatened in his fourth-round victory against Jaume Munar in Rome on Wednesday afternoon. The Norwegian won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarter-finals. There he will meet the revenant Jannik Sinner, the top seed, who has never really played his best tennis on clay, a surface on which he and Ruud have never met. The Italian leads their head-to-head 3-0, but the Norwegian will be in with a chance if he can play his very best tennis.
 
This QF match could be telling for Ruud. Coming off his Madrid win and with the confidence of winning matches against good clay courters in Rome, can he topple the world #1? This is a different level of competition even for a clay court specialist and it'll be interesting to see what kind of game strategy Team Ruud will employ to make the Italian uncomfortable.
 
dkmura said:
This QF match could be telling for Ruud. Coming off his Madrid win and with the confidence of winning matches against good clay courters in Rome, can he topple the world #1? This is a different level of competition even for a clay court specialist and it'll be interesting to see what kind of game strategy Team Ruud will employ to make the Italian uncomfortable.
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Moonballs will be an ingredient for sure
 
dkmura said:
This QF match could be telling for Ruud. Coming off his Madrid win and with the confidence of winning matches against good clay courters in Rome, can he topple the world #1? This is a different level of competition even for a clay court specialist and it'll be interesting to see what kind of game strategy Team Ruud will employ to make the Italian uncomfortable.
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This to me is the most hyped match of the season since AO.

Whoever wins this will go in as the 2nd favorite for RG.
 
Cabeza del Demonio said:
This to me is the most hyped match of the season since AO.

Whoever wins this will go in as the 2nd favorite for RG.
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Nope- I'd say Sinner is well and away the favorite for Roland Garros based on this performance.

Domination, pure domination from Sinner in a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ruud in the "hyped" Rome QF. Sinner's depth and pace off both wings was flawless, and his feel for the dropshot superb. Hard to imagine a more comprehensive beating than this one.
 
dkmura said:
Nope- I'd say Sinner is well and away the favorite for Roland Garros based on this performance.

Domination, pure domination from Sinner in a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ruud in the "hyped" Rome QF. Sinner's depth and pace off both wings was flawless, and his feel for the dropshot superb. Hard to imagine a more comprehensive beating than this one.
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True but let's wait for Alcaraz to make his statement. If he wins, he's going in with 2 of the 3 clay Masters and 4 straight wins against Sinner. That's about as dominant as we would've seen since Nadal.
 
cha cha said:
Casper Ruud is currently the most likeable gentleman player on tour.
Gets completely steamrolled, laughs it off at the net. Life is bigger than one tennis match.
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I agree that Casper Ruud sets a high bar for sportsmanship. But I don't think he was "laughing it off" when he came to net to congratulate Sinner on playing such a perfect match. Rather, he thought about how to react to such a dominant display, and chose to accept it with a bit of humility and grace. Even in such a defeat, you've got to admire his style.
 
dkmura said:
Nope- I'd say Sinner is well and away the favorite for Roland Garros based on this performance.

Domination, pure domination from Sinner in a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ruud in the "hyped" Rome QF. Sinner's depth and pace off both wings was flawless, and his feel for the dropshot superb. Hard to imagine a more comprehensive beating than this one.
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After watching the Rome final, I stand corrected. While Sinner was outstanding in this tournament, Alcarez certainly made a statement in winning this tournament. He's got to be considered the favorite, with Sinner not far behind.
 
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