Casper Ruud did not enjoy his best season. However, he qualified for his third ATP Finals and reached the semi-final, never falling in the round-robin stage. The Norwegian will seek the title clash against world no. 1 Jannik Sinner, standing as the outsider but warning the world's best player.
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Earlier this year in Monte Carlo, Casper defeated Novak Djokovic for the first time, toppling the world's leading player and hoping for a similar outcome in Turin on Saturday night. Ruud makes Sinner the favorite, praising the Italian but promising to give his best to perform a stunner.
As was expected, Jannik has been a player to beat in Turin. The home favorite scored all three round-robin wins, emerging at the top in his group and targeting the second straight ATP Finals title clash against Casper.
Casper tops world no. 1 Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo
Seven months ago, Ruud faced another world no. 1, Novak Djokovic, in the Monte Carlo semi-final. Heading into the clash with no top-3 wins under his belt, the lower-ranked player stunned the former champion 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes, earning his career-best victory.
Novak dominated the second set and clinched 11 points more than his opponent. However, Casper grabbed the crucial ones, delivering four breaks as his opponent and prevailing with a late one in the decider. Djokovic hit more winners and unforced errors, taking more points from the baseline but losing ground at the pivotal moment.
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Ruud delivered a break in the opening game of the encounter with a forehand winner and produced two holds for a 3-1 advantage. Djokovic missed another forehand in the fifth game, squandering a game point and losing serve to fall 4-1 behind.
The Serb pulled one break back in the sixth game and landeda serve & volley combo in the next one for 3-4. The Norwegian secured the eighth game with an ace and served for the opener at 5-4. Casper held at 15, wrapping up the first part of the duel 6-4 in 50 minutes and gaining confidence.
Novak landed in only 24% of the first serve in the second set. However, it was not an obstacle for him, defending the second serve nicely and providing a double break. He stole Casper's serve in the second game and held art love for a 3-0 lead. Djokovic forged a 4-1 lead with a drop shot winner and made another push on the return.
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The legend welcomed three double faults from his rival in the sixth game. Hemoved5-1 in front and landeda service winner in the next one to force a decider after an hour and 28 minutes and gain a boost. Casper recovered his game in the decider and earned a break in the second game for a 2-0 lead.
The younger player served well in games three and five, moving 4-1 up and controlling the scoreboard. Novak stepped in and pulled the break back at love in game seven, rattling off three games and locking the result at 4-4. The Serb served to stay int he match at 4-5 and hit a double fault, losing serve and sending his rival over the top.
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Novak landed in only 24% of the first serve in the second set. However, it was not an obstacle for him, defending the second serve nicely and providing a double break. He stole Casper's serve in the second game and held art love for a 3-0 lead. Djokovic forged a 4-1 lead with a drop shot winner and made another push on the return.
The legend welcomed three double faults from his rival in the sixth game. Hemoved5-1 in front and landeda service winner in the next one to force a decider after an hour and 28 minutes and gain a boost. Casper recovered his game in the decider and earned a break in the second game for a 2-0 lead.
The younger player served well in games three and five, moving 4-1 up and controlling the scoreboard. Novak stepped in and pulled the break back at love in game seven, rattling off three games and locking the result at 4-4. The Serb served to stay int he match at 4-5 and hit a double fault, losing serve and sending his rival over the top.
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Casper's ATP Finals campaign
Ruud had to sign for the ATP 250 event in Metz right before the ATP Finals to secure his spot at the elite event. However, he fell to Benjamin Bonzi but secured the Turin berth when Djokovic withdraw. World no. 7 defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-1, 7-5 in the first round-robin match, performing a comeback in the second set.
Ruud lost to Alexander Zverev 7-6, 6-3 and played for a place in the last four against Andrey Rublev. The Norwegian ousted the Russian 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to advance for the third time from as many trips to this event. Casper will try to topple world no. 1 Jannik Sinner and join Taylor Fritz in the title clash.
"It's like Jannik forgot how to lose a match. He deserves to be the year-end no. 1 player, standing at the top from start to finish. He has played incredibly well this week, reaching the semi-final without losing a set. I must do my best to beat him and perform much better than I have shown this season. It will be a massive challenge, as you do not get to face world no. 1 every day. The last time I faced world no. 1 was in Monte Carlo this April against Novak Djokovic. I won, and I will try to use that experience against Jannik. He is the favorite, but I will try everything to beat him," Casper Ruud said.
