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‘By far my biggest win ever’ – Casper Ruud after Stefanos Tsitsipas upset at Madrid Open


Casper Ruud said the conditions helped him get more free points on serve than usual as he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the Madrid Open quarter-finals. 

The Norwegian won 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 against the world No. 5 in the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament on Thursday.

The world No. 22 did not face a break point and won an impressive 80% of points behind his first serve.

“By far my best win ever on the tour and I’m super happy that it came here in Madrid and in a big match like this,” Ruud told ATP Tennis TV.

“He (Tsitsipas) is one of the best players this year on the tour, one of the ones who has won the most matches,” he said in a post-match interview.

“But the conditions are a bit different here than other clay courts with the fast shots, the ball traveling faster through the air because of the altitude.

“You get a lot of free points with the serve that you don’t usually [get] on the clay courts. I think that also today went a bit in my advantage.

“I felt like he was doing some mistakes that he doesn’t always do. I was just trying to take care of the chances that I got.”

The 22-year-old also spoke of the threat his quarter-final opponent Alexander Bublik poses.

“He’s definitely playing very well here in Madrid. He also won three matches. He’s serving unbelievable. He can do anything with the ball,” Ruud added.

“He can play drop shots and winners, the most incredible shots. Underarm serve. I have to be prepared for everything.”

(Photo credit Ray Giubilo)


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.