Casper Ruud has impressed on the ATP tour this year. The Norwegian started the 2021 season ranked in the Top 30. The 22-year-old had never reached the fourth round in Grand Slam before the Australian Open 2021. Ruud retired after losing the first 2 sets to Andrey Rublev.
The Norwegian ranking rose in February and reached a career high ranking of 24. He was in good form heading to the Mexican Open, making the quarterfinal in Acapulco. Unfortunately, injury once again forced him to retire before that match could take place.
Casper Ruud Impressive on ATP Tour
At the Monte Carlo Masters, Ruud started to come into his own. The Norwegian took out Diego Schwartzman in straight sets in the second round. Defeats of Pablo Carreño Bustaand defending champion Fabio Fognini saw the 22-year-old reach the semifinal. Rublev once again prevented the Norwegian from progressing further.
Moving to Germany, Ruud reached the semifinal of the BMW Open before Nikoloz Basilashvili defeated him in straight sets. More progress for the Norwegian as he took his first Top 5 scalp in the shape of Stefanos Tsitsipas in Madrid. The 22-year-old again made the semi-final before losing to Matteo Berrettini. Despite the loss Ruud reached another career high ranking of #16.
Titles on Clay
The clay court swing was certainly good for the Norwegian. In Geneva, Ruud made the final and defeated Denis Shapovalov in straight sets to claim the title, his first of the season. Moving to Bastad, Sweden, the Norwegian claimed his second title of the year. Proving that clay is a very good surface for Ruud, and that he is one to watch.
In Kitzbuhel, the Norwegian claimed the title, his third in a row. Ruud became the first player since Andy Murray in October 2011 to win three titles in as many weeks. After the success of the clay courts Ruud headed to the hard court swing. The Rogers Cup saw the 22-year-old progress to the quarterfinal, and he made the same stage the following week in Cincinnati.
Top 10
The Norwegian had moved into the Top 10 for the first time–the first Norwegian to accomplish this feat. Ruud was also the youngest player in the ATP Top 10. The 22-year-old has continued the great form into the latter part of the season, winning the title in San Diego. This was his first title on hard courts. Ruud defeated Murray, Lorenzo Sonego, Grigor Dimitrov, and Brit Cameron Norrie in the final.
The Norwegian is sixth seed at the upcoming Indian Wells Masters, and is in a good place to claim another title or at least go deep in the event.
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