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DISCLAIMER: Casper Ruud had a hard time on hard court in New York. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
(Berrettini-Ruud 6-4, 6-4, 6-2) Casper Ruud (21) is out of the US Open after losing to world number eight Matteo Berrettini (24) in three straight sets.
The 196cm tall Italian has worked his way up to eighth in the world rankings with serve as one of his relentless weapons. And in Saturday’s third-round match against Ruud, three years younger, Berrettini dropped well-placed “bombs” with high frequency.
Ruud tried to even things out by sending a long ball to the center forwards, but the visiting defense made the best of this rather direct style of play. That gave Berrettini the rematch on New York’s hard court for Ruud’s victory at the French Open between the parties last year. Which means that the Norwegian will take the third round as the best preliminary qualification in a Grand Slam context.
– I think everything worked. I started strong and served well. This guy is dangerous. He can play very well. So he had to be prepared. Today I was better than him, but I am sure that we will play many games between us in the future, says Berrettini in an interview shown on Eurosport.
STRONG: Matteo Berrettini was in form against Casper Ruud on Saturday night Norwegian time. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Tough opponent
With big absences from the list of participants like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Nick Kyrgios, Ruud would have a better chance than usual to go far at the US Open, which is one of the four biggest tournaments in the circus. tennis.
Ranked 37th in the world, every match would be tough anyway, and Berrettini proved too good in this match.
– Above all, it was a good tournament, although today it did not go well. I cannot be dissatisfied with a third round at a Grand Slam, and especially at the US Open. But I felt like I had some opportunities here and there that I couldn’t take care of, Ruud tells NTB.
Frustrated
Already in the first set, Berrettini showed class, including eight serves. The 24-year-old also broke Ruud in the Norwegian’s second service game.
The percentage of victories in the first service was 86 against 82, in favor of Berrettini. In the second set, Ruud occasionally played very good tennis, but again his Italian opponent was a bit more skilled.
After winning the first two sets with numbers 6-4, 6-4, the Italian, on the other hand, was completely superior in the third with a total of 52 “winners”. Then it was also clear that the frustration was great for Ruud.
– Berrettini can do exactly what he wants here. Lead Casper in his own server game, Francke commented, before adding:
– But we must rejoice at how good Ruud is. He’s in the third round of the US Open. A Norwegian had never been like this. It is an enormously good achievement. We look forward to what Casper has done.
