A gutsy Casper Ruud ousted fifth seed Jack Draper to claim the biggest title of his career at the Madrid Open.
The world No.15 prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, in a roller-coaster tussle at the Caja Magica that lasted more than two-and-a-half hours. Ruud struggled at times with his serve but managed to weather the storm to deny his rival a second Masters 1000 title of the year. By doing so, he has become the first Scandinavian player to win the Madrid Open and the first to do so whilst currently ranked outside the top 10 since the tournament switched surface to clay in 2009.
“It’s been a long time coming, one really big goal that I dreamed about since I was young,” Ruud said of winning his first Masters title.
“It’s an incredible feeling to accomplish it and the way I also did it.
“Today was a great match. I knew Jack had been playing unbelievably all year and especially this tournament, so I knew that if I don’t bring my A game I am going to be whooped around here on the court.”
In their first meeting on the Tour, Ruud appeared to be the more anxious of the two early on. Three games into the match, back-to-back double faults from the Norwegian handed Draper a break for 2-1. Draper, who didn’t drop a set en route to the final, continued to produce some heavy shot-making as he stormed ahead to 5-3 before a change of momentum occurred.
Serving for the set at 5-4, some tentative hitting from Draper opened the door for Ruud to break back and level. Continuing to turn the tides, he worked his way to set point a couple of games later with a winning forehand volley before hitting an overhead shot that won him the set. Ruud won 14 out of the last 19 points played in the frame.
During the changeover, a highly animated Draper vented his frustration towards his box in the crowd. Speaking out loud and criticizing his performance.
Draper got back on track in the second set with the help of an error-stricken Ruud service game midway through. A trio of mistakes from Ruud’s forehand enabled the Brit to break for a 4-3 lead. Two games later he managed to level the match. The biggest difference in the set was Draper hitting just one unforced error compared to 14 from his rival.
With all to play for, Ruud continued to apply pressure on Draper and eventually got rewarded in the decider. Breaking for a 3-2 lead after his opponent hit a backhand wide. Closing in on his first Masters 1000 trophy, he worked his way to three championship points by hitting a blistering forehand winner. He converted his first opportunity with the help of another deep shot that Draper was unable to return.
“Jack is such an incredible player on any surface now,” Ruud said in tribute to Draper.
“He’s won titles on every surface except for here (clay) and then he’s already made the final in Madrid. It’s an incredible year he’s having.
“This (victory) is a really good boost for me. I hope I can keep it going.” He added.
The 26-year-old went on to praise the support of his friends and family after recently opening up about the difficulties he has experienced on the Tour.
“I owe a lot of my success to all my closest ones,” he said.
“My family, my friends, my fiancée, Maria. We got engaged last year, she’s been an incredible support for me over many years now. She came yesterday to come and support me. Maybe that was the last little push I needed to get over the finish line.
“I’m surrounded by amazing people. I’m a really, really lucky guy.”
After also beating Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz earlier in the tournament, it is only the second time Ruud has beaten three top 10 players in the same tournament in his career. The first time he did so was at the 2022 ATP Finals.
He will rise back up the rankings on Monday to seventh position, five places below his career high.
