Ruud into Nordea Open final, Ramos-Vinolas makes it to Swiss Open final
Following a dismal early exit from the Wimbledon Championships, World No. 4 Casper Ruud wasted little time leaving behind a forgettable albeit brief grass court season. He has looked back to his comfortable self on the clay as he has raced to the final of the Nordea Open in Bastad.
On Saturday, Ruud took down the talented Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-5 to book his place in the Final. The Norwegian, who won this tournament 2 years ago, is into his 3rd Final of the season.
Musetti who is more than capable of creating magic from the baseline with his smooth one-handed backhand and an ever-improving forehand could not handle the heavy topspin being dealt out by Ruud. This is Ruud’s 20th clay court win of the season and he will hope he can get 21 on Sunday.
As for his opponent in the final, he will be squaring off with 2nd-seeded Andrey Rublev who beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (6), 6-7 (7), 6-3 in the clear match of the day. Rublev took the first set on the strength of his forehand and timely serving. Both players maintained their high level and strong serving as the 2nd set went to an inevitable razor-thin breaker.
Casper Ruud continues excellent run in 2023
The final set was more of the same until Rublev turned it up a notch to break twice and race away with the win.
Let’s hop over to Gstaad where the Swiss Open is taking place in the other ATP 250 event this week. 35-year-old Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas secured a spot in the final by comfortably working his way past the No. 2 seed Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2, 6-3.
The awkward lefty Ramos-Vinolas was broken in the first game of the match. One could say he bounced back as he won 12 of the next 16 games to race away with the victory. Ramos-Vinolas does not have the same game as another lefty Spaniard you might know. He constantly befuddled Kecmanovic by mixing in high-looping groundstrokes to disrupt the rhythm of the rallies.
His strategy worked to perfection as he picked up only his 10th win of the season. This will be the 12th ATP Tour Final of his career as he seeks his 5th career title.
The tour veteran will be taking on the 28-year-old journeyman Pedro Cachin in the final in Gstaad. The Argentine made light work of the talented youngster Hamad Medjedovic 6-3, 6-1.
Cachin won a sparkling 92 percent of the points on his first serve as his confidence is permeating throughout his game this week. Toppling the No. 1 seed at this event Roberto Bautista Agut seems to have lifted his game.
Next. Naomi Osaka will return!. dark
There will be two uniquely different finals on Sunday at these tournaments. With ranking points, trophies, and pride on the line, you can bet it’ll be fun viewing.