Casper Ruud clinched his first title after the Roland Garros final by beating Matteo Berrettini, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 at the Swiss Open in Gstaad two weeks ago. Ruud got the better of Berrettini and successfully defended his crown and won his eighth trophy on clay and ninth of his career.
Just two months ago, Ruud reached his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros, where he lost to 14-time Roland-Garros champion Rafael Nadal.
Speaking on an episode of ‘Credentialed’ on Tennis Channel, Ruud said his current form could be attributed to his first Masters 1000 semi-final at the Italian Open in 2020. According to the Norwegian, the semi-final final in Rome gave him more confidence to play (and win) big games on the circuit.
“It all started for me when we came back after the COVID break in 2020 and I reached my first semi-final in Rome in an ATP 1000. It was a really big result in a big event for me. Since then, I think, I just had more confidence in myself than I belonged there, playing big games and succeeding in big tournaments,” Casper Ruud said.
“I haven’t had a very, very big Grand Slam result yet until Roland Garros. It gave me even more conviction and confidence, in a way, in myself, that I can hope to do it again and play more finals, that I find my rhythm here at the top level in the world, I guess,” added Casper Ruud.
Ruud picked up his first ATP title in Buenos Aires in February 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down not just tennis but the world. After the break, Ruud picked up where he left off, making his first Masters 1000 semi-final appearance in Rome in September 2020. He lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets, but it kicked off the Norwegian’s breakthrough into the highest echelons of the sport. .
The following year, Ruud reached two Masters 1000 semi-finals in Monte Carlo and Madrid. He also bagged five trophies, including one on the hard courts in San Diego.
Ruud rode into 2022 with the same winning fire, winning a second title in Buenos Aires in February before reaching his first Masters 1000 final in Miami. He made the semis again in Rome, where he met a familiar opponent in Novak Djokovic. Ruud won his second title of the year in Geneva before advancing to the Roland-Garros final.
🏆 9th career title for Casper Ruud, who keeps his crown in Gstaad! Winner 4-6 7-6 6-2 in the final, the Norwegian stopped Matteo Berretini who had been undefeated since his return from injury in early June (12 consecutive victories). https://t.co/Bj6ipwz61k
In Gstaad, Ruud swept past Jiri Lehecka, Jaume Munar and Albert Ramos-Vinolas before prevailing in a three-set battle against Wimbledon 2021 runner-up Berrettini.
“For me, that’s the most important thing in sport, right? The value of daily work, he has it” – Rafael Nadal on Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud was hailed by Rafael Nadal after their final clash at Roland Garros. Nadal said in his post-match press conference that Ruud is a “great player” and values daily work which, for the Spaniard, is “the most important thing in sport”.
“Casper (Ruud) is a great player… Very high position in the rankings, improving every year, because in the past he was only a great player on clay. Now he wins titles and fights for the most important events of the other surfaces too.
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“For me, that’s the most important thing in sport, right? The value of the daily work. He has it. He’s improving all the time… All the things he achieves are huge, no ?” said Rafael Nadal.
Ruud is expected to compete in the National Bank Open in Montreal which started on Monday and received a bye to the second round of the Masters 1000 event in Canada.
Coming soon!