Casper Ruud enjoyed an almost perfect start to his title defence at the Madrid Masters after racing through his opening match on Saturday.
The Norwegian 12th seed thrashed home player Jaume Munar 6-0, 6-1 in just over an hour. Despite being ranked only 23 places higher than the Spaniard, Ruud dictated proceedings throughout the clash with the help of 19 winners. It is the fewest games he has conceded in an ATP match since February 2024, when he defeated Marcos Giron with the same score in Mexico.
“I had a great start in Madrid, a perfect beginning to the tournament,” Ruud said during an interview with BB Tennis.
Since winning Madrid 12 months ago, Ruud has won only one more trophy, at an ATP 250 event in Stockholm. So far this season, he has won 10 of 18 matches, with his best run reaching the quarter-finals in Delray Beach. He also reached the last 16 in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo.
“Coming here (to Madrid) as a defending champion is a new challenge for me,” Ruud admits.
“I’m enjoying it, but at the same time, it’s a little bit of pressure. I feel the excitement but also the pressure.
“I try my best to manage and see how I can do in the matches. I know that when I step on court, every match is a new match. We all start from 0-0; we start from the same place. All the players and whoever comes out on top moves on.”
In his section of the draw, the former world No.2 will next play 20th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. He is currently playing in his 54th Masters tournament.
One of those absent from Madrid is Carlos Alcaraz, who has been forced to end his clay season due to a wrist injury that he first struggled with while playing at the Barcelona Open.
“When you’re not feeling good and if you have injuries, it can be really tough, so I wish him the best and a speedy recovery as possible and to stay strong,” Ruud said of Alcaraz.
“He’s such a joy to watch and to be around in the tournament, so he will be missed for sure.”
Ruud is scheduled to play next on Monday.
