Casper Ruud is definitely the King of Swiss clay

  16.08.2022 Sports & Leisure

The defending champion did it again! Casper Ruud takes the winner's trophy at the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad for the second year in a row. He won in three sets against the Italian Matteo Berrettini. Excitement and anticipation were in the air, and the spectators roared with emotion in the sold-out Roy Emerson Arena.

He struck again: Norwegian Casper Ruud secured victory at the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad as the defending champion. The finalist beat Italian Matteo Berrettini in three sets (4:6, 7:6, 6:2) in front of a packed house at the Sunday finals. Victory, however, it did not come easy. For two and a half hours, Ruud and Berrettini made life difficult for each other in the Roy Emerson Arena. But in the end, the defending champion came out on top.

Match of equals
During the first set, Berrettini seemed to perform more consistently. Ruud's balls often flew too far and ended up out of bounds. However, reacting to Berrettini's serves is no easy matter: several times, the speedometer showed over 200 kilometres per hour. The 2018 defending champion played strategically, chasing his opponent down the court with long fastballs and short smashes. A tactic that had earned him a ticket to the final after two sets in the semi-final against Austrian Dominic Thiem. And it worked again: He won the first set 6:4.

Ruud turned up the heat during the second set, but Berrettini did not let off. When one won a game, the other took the next. They challenged each other again and again, and their ambition never faltered. It ended in a tiebreak, also bringing the turning point: Ruud won the set and dominated the match hereafter. Berrettini's balls often flew into the net, and Ruud won several points with brilliant serves. After two and a half hours, it was clear that Ruud would not pass on the trophy, and he defeated his opponent in three sets (4:6, 7:6, 6:2).

Vibrant atmosphere in the audience
“Ruud!” “Allez Matteo!”, “Come on, guys!”: Both finalists enjoyed equal support from the audience. The atmosphere in the stands was buzzing despite the burning hot sun. Loud cheering, shouts and emotional outbursts are part of a final match game. There was an unusual lively atmosphere at the Gstaad finals tennis match, quite contagious, and both players noticed this – and acknowledged it. Both Berrettini and Ruud thanked the audience after the match. “Thank you very much for the huge support. I am sorry I could not win the match,” Berrettini said. He congratulated Ruud and his team on an “incredible season”.

Ruud returned the compliment, saying Berrettini was a tennis player who worked hard for success. “Youʼre one of the nicest guys on tour. So not just because I won,” he said laughing, to the amusement of Berrettini and the spectators.

BRKIC AND CABRAL WIN THE DOUBLES
Following the singles final, four players battled it out to win the doubles. The newly formed duo Tomislav Brkic from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Francisco Cabral from Portugal won against the two veterans Robin Haase from the Netherlands and Philipp Oswald from Austria. For Cabral, it was the second doubles title this year, but in Estoril, he played with partner Nuno Borges from Portugal.

BASED ON AVS/JOCELYN PAGE

 


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