Top seed Casper Ruud escaped from danger after losing a break in each set as the defending champion emerged with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 7-6(4) win into the semi-finals of the ATP Gstaad event on Friday.
The Norwegian who swept to three straight 250-level clay titles in the post-Wimbledon summer a year ago – Bastad, Gstaad and Kitzbuehel – advanced past Spain’s Jaume Munar in just over two and a quarter hours.
The seed was frustrated by his own sloppy play at times, comparing losing a break to a bogey on the golf course – another sporting field where the ATP NO. 5 also excels.
He led 4-1 in the first set and 3-1 in the second but required a pair of tiebreakers to earn victory.
“I had to work hard to get those breaks, and to give them away with sloppy games is frustrating,” he said..”It like a bogey in golf – the worst feeling.
“But every player knows what that is like.”
Ruud, who dropped serve twice, added that all was not dismal:
“I very played well at times, and I stepped it up in the tiebreakers,” he said after winning on his second match point.
“It’s a good feeling to know I can play well when it matters.. In the end I played two good tiebreaks and I’m very happy.”
Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…
Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…
Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…
Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…
Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…
Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…