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(Casper Ruud – Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 7-6) Casper Ruud (21) is ready for the semifinals of the ATP tournament in Rome after a resounding victory over world number eight Matteo Berrettini.
After losing 6-4 in the first set to Italian Berrettini, the Norwegian fought back and won the second 6-3 after showing high-class play. In the semi-finals, he can face world number one Novak Djokovic, who now plays his quarter-finals (leading 1-0 in sets over Dominik Koepfer).
In the third set, the Norwegian started better and led 3-0 before the tall Italian (1.96 tall) again got used to his game and hit most things right. Thus, the set ended 6-6 and the match went to tiebreak.
The Norwegian won 7-5 after a crude performance. Ruud was down 3-5 and won four points in a row.
– I do not know what to say. It was crazy. ‘
This is Ruud’s first semi-final in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, and therefore also the first time he’s in the semi-finals of such a big tournament (the biggest after the Grand Slam). In Buenos Aires, in February of this year, he took his first and only ATP title, but it was in a smaller tournament, called ATP250.
IN BATTLE: Casper Ruud will likely fight for Novak Djokovic on Sunday. Photo: Clive Brunskill / POOL / GETTY POOL
Now it could be Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
– It’s exciting. It will be difficult anyway, if it’s Djokovic, it will be perhaps the most difficult challenge of my career. In Norway we say that the ball is around and anything can happen. I’ll do my best, says Ruud.
Tennis expert Ø vivos Sørvald praises the 21-year-old.
– This is big, it’s too big to put into words now. We ate for three hours. Especially in the second set, it shows how good it is, says the Eurosport expert.
Dad and coach Christian Ruud watched the game at home.
– This was fun, unbelievably fun. Incredible that he did it. We can be happy that he beats a top 10 player. It’s another good achievement, says Christian Ruud.
The Italian is the same one who eliminated Ruud from the US Open in the third round two weeks ago. Now fourth-seeded Berrettini had a tougher battle against the Norwegian, who was in his first quarter-final at a Masters 1000 tournament today.
– We will both be ready and deliver our best tennis. I’m ready for a good and tough match, Ruud told NTB before the quarterfinals.
He has his words intact. Sometimes it was high quality than what was shown in Rome for three hours on gravel in 31 degrees heat.
Casper Ruud recently touched the best position of his career in the world rankings and is back in 34th place. He will rise further after the success in Rome.
P.S! Ruud beat Berrettini 3-0 at the French Open last year, but lost 0-3 against the strong Italian at this year’s US Open.
We are updating!
