Did Ruud Beat Draper to Secure His First Masters 1000 Title in Madrid?

Synopsis
In a thrilling showdown at the Madrid Open, Casper Ruud claimed his first Masters 1000 title, defeating Jack Draper in a hard-fought final. This victory not only marks a significant milestone for Ruud but also solidifies his place in tennis history as the first Norwegian to achieve this feat. Discover the highlights of this incredible match.
Key Takeaways
- Casper Ruud secured his first Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open.
- Ruud is the first Norwegian to achieve a Masters 1000 victory.
- The match lasted two hours and 29 minutes.
- Ruud defeated three Top 10 players during the tournament.
- Despite the loss, Jack Draper rises to a career-high No. 5 in the ATP Rankings.
Madrid, May 5 (NationPress) Casper Ruud emerged victorious against Jack Draper with a score of 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, securing his inaugural Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open. This triumph comes after Ruud's near-misses in the finals at Miami in 2022 and Monte Carlo in 2024.
Since 2020, Ruud boasts more victories (125), finals (17), and titles (12) on clay than any other player. However, he entered the 2023 Mutua Madrid Open with doubts surrounding his form, having exited in the last sixteen in Monte Carlo and the quarterfinals in Barcelona, where he was the defending champion. These results saw him drop to the 15th spot in the ATP world rankings.
In a match lasting two hours and 29 minutes, Ruud made history as the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 title. The 26-year-old, a three-time Grand Slam finalist and former No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, has now claimed 13 titles on the ATP Tour. During the Madrid event, he achieved three Top 10 victories, defeating World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, No. 10 Daniil Medvedev, and No. 6 Draper to clinch the title, according to ATP reports.
“It feels fantastic, of course. This has been a long-awaited goal of mine since childhood, so achieving it is an incredible sensation. The way I performed today made it even more special. I knew Jack had been playing exceptionally well all year, particularly in this tournament, so I needed to bring my absolute best game,” said Ruud.
“Fortunately, I played excellently. Jack has transformed into such a remarkable player across all surfaces. He’s captured titles on every surface except clay, and he’s already reached finals here in Madrid. It’s been an exceptional year for him, and this victory is a significant boost for me. I want to keep this momentum going,” Ruud added.
Despite the loss, Draper will finish his time in Madrid with a 19-5 record for the season and is set to rise one spot to a career-high No. 5 in the ATP Rankings.