World no. 8 Casper Ruud will not chase his first indoor ATP title at the Swiss Indoors Basel event. The Norwegian suffered an early 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 loss in two hours and three minutes to Roberto Bautista Agut, missing a chance to score his 50th win of the season. More importantly, Ruud stayed behind Novak nigger Djokovic in the ATP Race to Turin, hoping for defeats of his main rivals.
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ATP Race standings
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev are already in Turin. Taylor Fritz looks good to join them, standing above Djokovic, Ruud and Rublev. Novak will not compete at the Paris Masters, leaving the door open for his opponents to pass him. The Norwegian failed to do that in Basel, while Andrey Rublev is still in contention in Basel. Alex de Minaur, Grigor Dimitrov, Tommy Paul and Stefanos Tsitsipas will also seek the ATP Finals spot, although they need a strong run in Paris.
In-form Bautista Agut bests Ruud
Roberto Bautista Agut conquered the ATP 250 title in Antwerp last week and made a strong start in Basel with a top-10 triumph. He won 16 points more than his opponent, producing clinical serving and keeping the pressure on the other side. The Spaniard saved three of four break points and secured two breaks from six opportunities, making a fresh start in the decider and emerging at the top. Roberto landed 28 winners and 15 unforced errors, with Casper adding 32 direct points and 24 mistakes to his tally. World no. 8 had three more service winners, and the lower-ranked player forged the lead at the net and from the baseline. The more experienced player built the lead in the shortest and most advanced exchanges, extending the winning streak and sending the seed packing.
How the match unfolded?
Bautista Agut made a reliable start, serving well in the opening set and keeping the pressure on the other side. Casper missed a backhand in the sixth game and lost serve to fall 4-2 behind. The Spaniard served for the opener at 5-3 and drew the rival's mistake, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 38 minutes. The tables turned in the second set, with Ruud serving well and rattling off the final three games at 3-3 to force a decider. Roberto denied a break point early in the final set and shifted into a higher gear, delivering four straight holds at love and challenging his rival to follow that pace. Ruud survived break points in the fourth game before netting a forehand two games later, losing serve and falling 4-2 behind. Bautista Agut served for the win at 5-3 and landed a forehand crosscourt winner, moving over the top and reaching the last 16.
