Casper Ruud Makes History in Madrid, Conquering the First Masters 1000 for Norway
In an epic final at the Madrid Open, Casper Ruud became the first Norwegian tennis player to win a Masters 1000 title, after defeating Jack Draper with scores of 7-5, 3-6, and 6-4.
Ruud, who reached number two in the world, came back from 5-3 down in the first set and secured the victory by taking a break in the third set, making his dominance on the court clear.
After winning the match, the 26-year-old tennis player celebrated enthusiastically, demonstrating the importance of this achievement.
“It’s something I’ve been waiting for for a long time. It was one of the big goals I dreamed of when I was young, so it’s an incredible feeling to achieve it. Also, the way I did it today, it was a great match. I knew Jack had been playing incredibly all year, and especially in this tournament, so I knew that if I didn’t bring my best game, I would get a beating on the court.”
Casper Ruud
Thanks to his performance in Madrid, Ruud will return to the top 10, reaching the number 7 position in the ranking on Monday.
“Fortunately, I played really well. Jack has become an incredible player, on any surface now… This is a great boost for me, and I would like to continue like this.”
Casper Ruud
This triumph marks Ruud’s first in a Masters 1000 since the series was introduced in 1990, solidifying his position on the circuit.
Ruud, who has more clay titles (12) than any other player since 2020, once again demonstrated his skill on this surface.
Draper, for his part, acknowledged Ruud’s superiority, highlighting his bravery in key moments.
“You deserve it. Obviously you have worked hard and have had very good years on the circuit… This sport is brutal, but I think this defeat will make me better, so I will keep trying.”
Jack Draper
The tournament in Madrid was affected by a power outage that forced the postponement of several matches. Despite this, the competition continued with great intensity.
In the semifinal, Ruud felt discomfort in his ribs, but no signs of injury were noticed in the final.
Draper, who hadn’t lost a set on his way to the final, couldn’t close out the first set when serving with a 5-4 lead, showing his frustration during the changeover.
The tournament was also affected by the early eliminations of several important players. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to injury and Novak Djokovic fell in his first match.
In the women’s final, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Coco Gauff.
