Casper Ruud: Great season with a beauty spot
Casper Ruud is playing an excellent season in 2021 and has already celebrated three titles on the ATP tour this calendar year. Still, the year is overshadowed by a beauty mark.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jul 26, 2021, 07:20 am
On Sunday afternoon in Gstaad it was again the same sovereignty that Casper Ruud already brought two titles on the ATP tour this calendar year that made the Norwegian triumph in Switzerland. The 22-year-old had the debut finalist Hugo Gaston under control over the entire course of the final, ultimately winning 6: 2 and 6: 3.
It is true that the world number 14 came home. won all of his titles at ATP 250 events, even in the higher category, the established clay court specialist was able to convince. Specifically at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Monte Carlo, where the Scandinavian played his way to the semifinals. The consequence: Casper Ruud is also involved in the ATP finals for the first time this year and is currently ninth in the race.
Ruud for the title in Kitzbühel
And could catapult himself into a provisional qualification place for the season finale in the coming week, provided the Norwegian brings his strong condition on clay with him to Austria, to the ATP 250 event in Kitzbühel. There the 22-year-old is entering the race as a title contender, so he could catch up with the currently leading Novak Djokovic in terms of title wins in calendar year 2021.
The balance of the game year 2021, it could be quite positive for the Norwegian. If it weren't for a beauty spot that casts its shadow over the youngster's season: the French Open. There was the world number 14. Far from doing justice to his experience, after Dominic Thiem's early retirement, he had a free run in the direction of the quarter-finals, but ultimately failed because of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina - and his nerves. For a player who currently only belongs to the real world elite on one underground, this is of course a bitter disappointment.