Seven-time triumph for Casper Ruud at the Madrid Open tournament

Lucky Seven: Casper Ruud Cracks the Big Time at the Madrid Open

In a thrilling two-and-a-half-hour battle, Casper Ruud, the plucky Norwegian tennis sensation, bagged the Madrid Open trophy – the most significant title of his career – by outsmarting Jack Draper in their nail-biting encounter.

Ranked 15th, Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam bridesmaid, finally claimed his first Masters 1000 championship with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over the British upstart.

Before this, Draper, who surged to fifth in the world rankings, had high hopes of adding to his Indian Wells title from March. However, Ruud refused to give in easily, outlasting Draper in his third Masters final.

"Seven is my lucky number, I guess," joked Ruud, who had a rocky history in high-pressure situations, losing six out of his seven big finals prior to this one.

After a grueling season filled with heartbreaks, Ruud was elated to clinch his much-awaited title in Madrid. "It's a mix of relief, happiness, and pure joy," he said. "It's tough to perform well at the biggest tournaments, and I've never managed to cross the finish line as a champion, but today I did."

Draper, eyeing his first triumph on clay, showed tremendous form in the second set, committing only one unforced error while unleashing his powerful forehand. However, it was Ruud who took charge in the decider, breaking Draper multiple times to clinch the match.

"Congratulations, Casper. You played bravely in the critical moments," Draper said post-match. "This sport is cutthroat, but I'll keep pushing, and I believe this defeat will drive me to better things."

Ruud, who boasts 18 clay-court ATP finals (the second-highest among active players after Djokovic)[2], has had a knack for shining on the surface, though until the Madrid Open, he had yet to taste Masters glory.

As he stepped up to serve for the title, Draper displayed a valiant effort, saving three break points in the seventh game before holding serve. But it wasn't enough as Ruud eventually broke through to claim the crown.

"I honestly believe I'm just getting started," Draper said. "I'll keep improving, keep pushing hard, and use these tough moments to motivate myself to become better."

[1] - AP News[2] - ATP World Tour[3] - ATP Player Profiles[4] - ESPN[5] - BBC Sport[6] - Reuters Sports News[7] - Tennis Magazine

Fast Facts:- Casper Ruud has contested seven significant finals in his career (Masters 1000, Grand Slams), securing his first major title at the Madrid Masters 2025 with a victory over Jack Draper.- His record in high-stakes matches stands at 1 win and 6 losses.- As a clay court specialist, Ruud has reached 18 ATP finals on the surface (second only to Djokovic among active players). Although he had previously competed in a Masters final once before Madrid, he had yet to secure a title in this tier.

After a meteoric rise through the ranks, Casper Ruud, the Norwegian tennis sensation, added a Masters 1000 championship to his resume by defeating Jack Draper at the Madrid Open, a significant career milestone for the plucky player.
Lucky number 7 seemed to be on Casper Ruud's side as he managed to break his string of defeats in big finals, previously standing at 1 win and 6 losses, and finally securing his first Masters 1000 championship.
With 18 ATP clay-court finals under his belt, the second-highest among active players behind Novak Djokovic, Ruud has proven his prowess on this surface. After many close calls, he made history at the Madrid Open, becoming the first to add a Masters 1000 title to his collection.