Casper Ruud

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Madryt 25: 9. półfinał M-1000.

[14] Casper Ruud d. [9] Daniil Medvedev 63 75

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Ruud claims first win over Medvedev, reaches Madrid SFs

Spoiler:

Norwegian is first player born in 1990 or later to reach 30 tour-level SFs on clay
May 01, 2025
Highlights: Ruud earns first win against Medvedev, advances to Madrid SFs
Watch Casper Ruud improve to 1-3 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Daniil Medvedev. Watch live & on demand at TennisTV.com.

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Casper Ruud is chasing his first ATP Masters 1000 title.
By ATP Staff
Casper Ruud extended his perfect streak in ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finals on clay to 7-0 on Thursday at the Mutua Madrid Open, where he fought past an attack-minded Daniil Medvedev.

The Norwegian rebuffed Medvedev’s assertive approach with a confident display of his own to prevail 6-3, 7-5 and reach the semi-finals. Medvedev fired 23 winners and advanced to the net on 23 occasions, but Ruud remained resolute to seal a one-hour and 39-minute victory.

“I looked at our stats last night and saw he beat me on grass, outdoor hard and indoor hard. The last surface was clay so I thought ‘Please don’t make it 4-0’,” said Ruud. “I tried to use the surface to my advantage. I thought the level was pretty good from both players, I was impressed with Daniil’s ability to produce power here on clay.

”Today it felt like he was decisive and firing from the forehand, he hit some great winners. He didn’t bring what I expected.”


While Medvedev led 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Ruud, Thursday’s quarter-final clash marked their first since 2021, and first on clay. Medvedev shifted to a more aggressive approach, aiming to combat Ruud’s heavy topspin groundstrokes by taking them on the rise or even out of the air.

Yet Ruud remained patient, crucially saving each of the two break points he faced in the first set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and converting the only one he carved out at 5-5 in the second to advance. The 26-year-old is the first player born in 1990 or later to reach 30 tour-level semi-finals on clay.

It All Adds Up

Ruud was unable to defend his title at the ATP 500 in Barcelona two weeks ago and subsequently dropped out of the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time since last February. But with his run to a ninth Masters 1000 semi-final, Ruud is up three spots to No. 12 in the Live Rankings and will return to the Top 10 if he reaches the final in Madrid.

“I came here after a tough defeat in Barcelona… I worked a little bit with myself and especially the mental aspect,” Ruud added. “I think I am coming into the tournaments with a better version of myself. I’ve been playing with good intensity [in Madrid] and I would like to keep it going. There has been a fire missing lately, so I am happy to bring it here in Madrid.”

He will next continue his quest for a maiden Masters 1000 trophy against the winner of Thursday afternoon’s quarter-final between 20th seed Francisco Cerundolo and 19-year-old Jakub Mensik.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/ruud-me ... 5-thursday

[Damian]

'You inspire so many', Ruud's heartfelt message to Swiatek after painful defeat

Spoiler:

Norwegian writes to Iga on social media
May 01, 2025
Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek were both in Madrid action on Thursday.
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Casper Ruud and Iga Swiatek were both in Madrid action on Thursday.
By ATP Staff
Painful losses can leave even the most accomplished tennis stars feeling alone, no matter how much they have achieved.

Casper Ruud is making sure Iga Swiatek does not bear that weight following her Mutua Madrid Open semi-final, which she lost to Coco Gauff in a surprising 6-1, 6-1 routing.

It All Adds Up

The defending champion Swiatek was visibly emotional in the second set, covering her head with a towel as she broke down in tears during a changeover at 6-1, 3-0.

The Norwegian quoted a video of the raw moment on X and posted a heartfelt message: "Hey @iga_swiatek keep your head up🙏🙏," he wrote. "Like millions of other people I love watching you play. Not your day today, but you inspire so many and you’ll be back stronger than ever!!😊🤩👏🎾"

Ruud, No. 12 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, will compete in a semi-final match of his own Friday, when he faces 20th seed Francisco Cerundolo. The Argentine leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 5-3. Ruud holds a 19-6 season record, according to the Infosys ATP Win-Loss Index, and has not dropped a set this fortnight.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/ruud-ig ... adrid-2025

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Ruud fends off Cerundolo for Madrid final berth

Spoiler:

Norwegian will play Draper or Musetti in Sunday’s title match
May 02, 2025
Highlights: Ruud digs deep to sink Cerundolo in Madrid 2025 SF
Casper Ruud saved 15 of 18 break points he faced to book his final berth at the Mutua Madrid Open. Watch live & on demand at TennisTV.com.

Casper Ruud defeats Francisco Cerundolo on Friday at the Mutua Madrid Open.
By Andy West
Casper Ruud repeatedly showed his class under pressure on Friday at the Mutua Madrid Open, where the Norwegian overcame Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-5 to reach the final at the clay-court ATP Masters 1000.

The 14th-seeded Ruud received treatment on his rib from the physio after just three games, but went on to save 15 of 18 break points he faced overall against Cerundolo, according to Infosys ATP Stats. With his one-hour, 54-minute win in the Spanish capital, Ruud advanced to his third Masters 1000 championship match and simultaneously ensured he will on Monday return to the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings after just two weeks away.


“I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish the match, honestly,” said Ruud. “I felt something in my rib during the warm up, just towards the end before going out [on court], and I felt it in nearly every shot, especially the serve. Luckily, I got some quick treatment on it. There’s not too much you can do, you only have three minutes [with the physio]. So I will go and check it out more now.

“I got a couple of painkillers, which is not the ideal thing, but at the same time in a situation like this, you have to do that now and then. I was able to just play one game at a time really. It was easing and getting better as the match went on.”

Awaiting Ruud in Sunday’s final in Madrid will be fifth seed Jack Draper or 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti. Should he lift the trophy, Ruud will become the first Norwegian to triumph at Masters 1000 level since the series was introduced in 1990.



Ruud entered Friday’s clash on a two-match losing streak against Argentina’s Cerundolo, including a straight-sets defeat on the hard courts of Miami in March. Yet after holding serve from 0/40 in the opening game and then receiving the treatment on his rib, the Norwegian clinched the first set with a decisive break of serve in the 10th game.

The second set was a topsy-turvy affair, with both players’ struggles on serve contributing to five breaks overall. A key turning point came in the fifth game, when Ruud saved all seven break points he faced to earn a 3-2 lead. Although he was unable to repeat that escape two games later, the Norwegian won four of five games from 3-4 to ensure he reached the final without having dropped a set across his five matches in Madrid so far.

After improving to 4-5 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Cerundolo, Ruud is up five spots to No. 10 in the PIF ATP Live ATP Rankings. The 12-time ATP Tour champion, who also reached Masters 1000 finals in Miami in 2022 and Monte-Carlo in 2024, could return to as high as World No. 6 on Monday if he lifts the Madrid trophy.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/ruud-ce ... id-2025-sf

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