Casper Ruud won the biggest title of his career with a 7-5, 3-6 , 6-4 defeat of Jack Draper in the final of the Madrid Masters on Sunday.
The Norwegian who twice finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros spent two and a half hours in securing his success. It was his 13th career trophy but first at the Masters 1000 level.
Ruud and his British opponent were playing for the fist time after both had some through to the title match without the loss of a set.
The Norwegian won the opening set after coming from a break down but dropped serve twice in the second as Draper – already a Masters champion through in March trophy in Indian Wells – levelled the final at the Caja Magica.
But the Scandinavian, watched by former Swedish legend Stefan Edberg, lifted in the third, with Draper appearing to show twinges of the hip problems which bothered him last season and into 2025.
Ruud finished off victory with back-to-back forehand winners which Draper could not touch.
:it feels great, this has been a long time coming,” Ruud said. “It has always been one of my big dreams to win a Masters.
“It’s an incredible feeling to accomplish it.”
Ruud praised Draper, who wil rise into the ranking top five as a result of his showing this week.
“Jack plays an unbelievable game, he’s won titles on every surface but this one.
“This was a good boost for me, I hope I can keep it going (with Roland Garros starting in less than three weeks).”
Ruud will return to the top 10 after a two-week absence; he leads the ATP with 125 clay wins since the start of 2020. He is the third Scandinavian to win a Masters after Swedes Stefan Edberg at 1992 Hamburg and Magnus Norman at 2000 Rome.
Photos:-Casper Ruud celebrates winning Madrid Masters – by ISF Ltd
