US Open: Brilliant Casper Ruud sweeps Matteo Berrettini off the field
Casper Ruud is in the semifinals of the US Open after an impressive performance. The Norwegian didn't give Matteo Berrettini a chance for long stretches and is now waiting for the winner of the duel between Karen Khachanov and Nick Kyrgios ( Here the match in re-live ).
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 06, 2022, 08:52 pm
The start of this match was like on an incline. Matteo Berrettini seemed to have had a pitch-black day at first, not only working on the backhand, but completely unnerved with the whole game. And accordingly, after just a few minutes, was confronted with a 0:5 deficit. The maximum penalty could still be avoided for the Roman, but Ruud still easily scored 6: 1 on 1: 0 sets.
This key didn't change much in the second round either: the Norwegian had a clear upper hand thanks to a great performance that was actually flawless (!) in the second round and quickly pulled away again to 5:1. From now on, the almost unbelievable dominance of the seventh in the world rankings began to crumble. Matteo Berrettini was able to reduce to 5:4, but then had to watch without a chance as Casper Ruud closed the second set with a solid service game.
Ruud comes back in set three
Overall, however, a lot had changed: Matteo Berrettini had arrived in this match. And showed the usual virtues: great serves, powerful forehands and a solid, albeit harmless backhand. Which was profitably massaged by Casper Ruud towards the end of the second set, when Berrettini had two set balls for the first time when the score was 5:2.
So Berrettini let slip again, had to accept the rebreak after a big fight when the score was 5:3, Ruud served himself a little later to make it 5:5. Everything back in line in round three. During this phase, Berrettini repeatedly tried unsuccessfully to attack the net, and the Norwegian knew how to exploit this with great strength. A few moments later, a tiebreak had to make the decision.
Ruud with a great tiebreak
In this, Berrettini allowed an unusual amount on his own serve, Ruud got three mini breaks at once - and at a score of 6: 2 four match balls in a row. Number three fit, Ruud finally won 6: 1, 6: 4 and 7: 6 (4) and is in the semifinals of the US Open 2022.
In the semifinals, Casper Ruud meets the winner of the duel between Karen Khachanov and Nick Kyrgios. Frances Tiafoe and Andrey Rublev as well as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz contest the two semifinals on the lower half of the draw. If he makes it to the final of the US Open, Casper Ruud would be the new number one in the world from Monday.
You can read the match in re-live here!
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