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(McDonald-Ruud 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 2-6) Casper Ruud (21) is ready for the second round of the US Open for the first time in his career after turning 0-2 3-2 on set against local hope Mackenzie McDonald (25).
Ruud had worked his way up to becoming the 37th best player in the world before this week’s Grand Slam tournament in New York. Tuesday’s opponent was ranked 243, but Mackenzie McDonald surprisingly won the first two sets.
This meant that Ruud had to win three sets in a row not to be eliminated immediately. However, the 21-year-old from Snarøya did not let himself be stressed. A successful trick between the legs with his back to the net in the third set was a turning point. From then on, Ruud was unstoppable. After nearly four hours of play, the trailer was in full swing after a crazy Norwegian pickup. With a clenched fist and a small smile, Ruud applauded the victory with Father Christian present as one of the few in a nearly empty rostrum.
– It’s absolutely fantastic. It is completely raw. It is so great sport. He goes out, lies down, stands up and bends over, but then throws him to the ground, says Ø claim Sørvald, a Eurosport expert and sports director for the Norwegian Tennis Association.
Legend predicts quarterfinals
Tennis legend Mats Wilander (56) stated even before the match that he thinks Ruud can surprise in a big way at this year’s US Open. The Swede himself won seven Grand Slam tournaments during his career.
– Grand Slams is where you will break through. I think we can look forward to the quarter-finals, Wilander told VG, which would be sensational.
The German Boris Becker (52), for his part, asks for patience with Ruud. He thinks the current world ranking as number 37 is good, considering age.
– It’s a good ranking. I hope he wins some games, but you don’t have to push him too hard. He is only 21 years old. He cannot be expected to go too deep into a Grand Slam. Round three or four would be very good, says Becker, who now works as an expert at Eurosport.
HARD OPPONENT: Mackenzie McDonald played Ruud in the first round of the US Open in New York. Photo: AP
Great potential
Wilander agrees that Ruud deserves a patient tennis audience. Ruud is only 21 years old and still has several seasons to go before he is at his best tennis age.
– You have to be patient, because tennis players enter their best moment when they are 25 years old. Casper hasn’t arrived yet. Physically, perhaps, but not mentally and tactically, thinks the Swede.
In the second round, Finn Emil Ruusuvuori now awaits on Thursday. It is ranked 92 in the world. The New York tournament is the first to be held after the coronavirus hit the world hard. Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have taken precautions related to the pandemic and are therefore facing this year’s US Open. Superstar Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, is in his place alongside Ruud and several other profiles.
