Casper Ruud has become the youngest ATP finalist in Houston since Andy Roddick after beating Daniel Elahi Gala in the semi-finals.
The rising Norwegian continued his incredible week by beating Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 7-5 6-2 to reach his first ATP final.
After going 5-2 down he battled back to win the next five games and eventually cruised to victory in front of a great Houston crowd, which included Ruud’s father.
It seems as his work at the Rafa Nadal Academy is continuing to pay off as he becomes the youngest finalist in Houston since Andy Roddick in 2002.
After the match Ruud explained his emotions as he continues his climb up the rankings, “It’s an amazing feeling to be in your first final,” said Ruud to atptour.com. “It’s what we work hard for. But even though it’s been an amazing week, I’m hungry to win the last match.”
In the final Ruud will now play Chilean Christian Garin, who has had an emotional week to get to the final. A 7-6(2) 6-2 win over Sam Querrey means that it will be his second clay-court final of 2019.
After an epic three hour win over Jeremy Chardy earlier in the week, Garin has only got better as he is looking forward to another final, “I was really focused in the second set and I think he was a bit tired in the end, but I’m playing really well.”
The Chilean is projected to move into the top 50 in the world if he seals a first career title against Ruud on Sunday. While Ruud will move into the top 70 regardless what happens in the final.
It should be an intriguing final, which will start at 2pm local time.
