Casper completes comeback for Hamburg quarter-final spot

Casper Ruud turned the tables on a troublesome opponent to move into the quarter-finals of the ATP hamburg clay event on Thursday, coming back for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Cristian Garin.

The Chilean opposition had beaten Norway’s double Roland Garros finalist twice on the dirt and stood 3-1 in their career series.

But top seed Ruud recovered after dropping serve three times in the opening set to move into the last eight at the Rothenbaum Club.

The 2020 semi-finalist then made up the distance on the South American after trailing 2-1 in the second set, winning three straight games to start his run to recovery in an hour and three-quarters.

“Cristian played much better than me at the beginning,” the winner said.

“He broke me right away and was returning from all corners. I had no answers.

“I tried to stay in the second set and told myself to keep going, maybe I will get a chance. 

“At 2-2 I was able to break him on my first break point and things started to change. A couple of points can decide a match. 

“Even though the result in the end seemed kind of clear, it is always tough against Cristian.”

Ruud now owns 22 match wins this season, trailing only world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in that department.

Ruud has only one title so far this season, winning Estoril in May.

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