Cerundolo outmatched by Ruud, advancing to the final tournament round
In a gritty display of determination, Casper Ruud, the world-class Norwegian tennis player, triumphed over Francisco Cerundolo in the Madrid Open semifinals, despite a nagging rib injury.
AP, MADRID
Backed by painkillers, Ruud displayed unwavering resolve, beating Cerundolo in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5 on the Caja Magica center court. The 15th-ranked Norwegian's victory sets him up for an exciting clash against Jack Draper in the final.
Ruud's injury struck during the warm-up before the match, causing discomfort with every shot, especially when serving. But he bravely soldiered on, saving 15 out of 18 break points against an aggressive Argentine foe.
Facing the possibility of not finishing the match, Ruud underwent brief treatment early in the game. Relying on painkillers and the surge of adrenaline, Ruud noticed the pain gradually subsiding as the match progressed.
If he wins the final, Ruud stands a chance to return to the ATP Top 6 rankings. Additionally, he would become the first Norwegian to capture an ATP 1000 trophy, a impressive feat given the series' inception in 1990, according to the ATP.
However, the road to this illustrious triumph has not been easy for Ruud. In two previous encounters, Cerundolo secured victories. Nevertheless, Ruud was undeterred, determined to write a new chapter in his tennis journey.
Meanwhile, Jack Draper, the sixth-ranked player in the world, emerged victorious against Lorenzo Musetti, with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the other semi-final. Draper currently holds a flawless 4-0 record against Musetti and boasts a top-5 debut in the rankings following his impressive performance in Madrid.
"Both of us didn't drop our quality from the first ball," Draper shared, highlighting the high quality of play in the match. "Credit to Lorenzo, he's playing exceptionally well on the clay."
In a surprising twist, Draper credited his mother for bringing him luck after she attended the match, a move that has often preceded poor performances for him previously.
"Every time she's come to watch me play, I've been terrible," he admitted. "But her luck seems to have changed this time around."
In women's doubles, the semifinals saw a thrilling contest between Romanian Sorana Cirstea and partner Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, and Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. Cirstea and Kalinskaya eventually emerged victorious with scores of 7-6 (2), 6-4.
As the Madrid Open reaches its climax, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka are set to square off in the women's singles final. Final results will be shared at a later date.
[1]: AP, MADRID[2]: Ruud received treatment on his rib three games into the match.[3]: Ruud said he “felt it in nearly every shot, especially the serve.”[4]: "I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish the match, honestly," Ruud said.[5]: Ruud saved 15 of the 18 break points he faced against Cerundolo.
Maybe Ruud's victory over Cerundolo in the Madrid Open semifinals was thanks, in part, to the painkillers he received for his rib injury. In a gritty display of determination, Ruud displayed unwavering resolve, relying on these painkillers and the surge of adrenaline, to beat Cerundolo in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5 on the Caja Magica center court. If he wins the final, Ruud stands a chance to return to the ATP Top 6 rankings, a position he held before his injury struck during the warm-up before the match, causing discomfort with every shot, especially when serving.
