Casper Ruud kept constant pressure on Matteo Berrettini in a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4) quarter-final US Open win which brings the Norwegian closer to a possible rise to the top ATP ranking..
If the fifth seed can reach the final in his semi-final against the winner from Nick Kyrgios and Karen Khachanov, the 23-year-old could take the No. 1 spot depending on results from Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz
Ruud spent just over two and a half hours in dominating 2021 Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, with the Italian firing 13 aces but slammed by nearly 50 unforced errors.
The Norwegian winner finished with 20 winners and 23 unforced errors as he played a steady, controlled power game.
Ruud won 11 of the first 13 games of a match played under a closed Ashe stadium roof due to rain
“I had probably my best start ever,” he said. It was all going my way.
“I was hitting all of my sports when I needed to and taking care of all the chances that I got.
“At the end of the second set I got a bit nervous, things were going almost too well. I had to calm down a bit.”
Ruud toughed out the third set tiebreaker and advanced on his third match point.
Main photo:- Casper Ruud winning US Open quarter final – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
