Casper Ruud, first joy in a 1000: Jack Draper goes down in Madrid

On his seventh attempt between Grand Slams, Masters 1000s and ATP Finals, Casper Ruud has made it. The Norwegian, in fact, has won his first Masters 1000 on the clay of the Caja Magica in Madrid, undoubtedly the most important success of his career.

Ruud, who with this victory will become No. 7 in the ATP rankings, defeated Britain’s Jack Draper, the world number six and five seed, in the final with a score of 7-5 3-6 6-4 after two and a half hours of play.

He started the match uphill for the Norwegian, who lost his serve in the third game (1-2). Draper retains the break lead until 5-3, but then pays dearly for a lapse that costs him the first partial (5-7).

In the second set, it was again the Englishman who first broke the’balance: in the fateful seventh game Draper took the serve away from Ruud (4-3) and repeated the break lead in the ninth game that coincided with winning the second partial (6-3).

In the third and decisive set, this time it is Ruud who breaks the’balance, scratching the break in the fifth game (3-2). The Norwegian retained it until the final 6-4, which earned him, so far, the greatest joy of his career.