Casper Ruud overcame Andrey Rublev 6-4 5-7 6-2 to reach the semifinals for the third time in his career at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. Ruud improved to 3-5 in his head-to-head series against Rublev.
Ruud needed to win just a set to join John Newcombe Group winner Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. The Norwegian player finished the round robin group with a 2-1 record.
Rublev had to win in straight sets to have a chance of qualifying for the semifinal.
Rublev was leading 3-2 0-30 on Ruud’s serve. Ruud then won 11 of his 13 points as he converted his second break point in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Rublev held to force Ruud to serve it out. Ruud held serve to 30 to win the first set and book his spot in the semifinal.
Rublev earned two set points at 5-4 on Ruud’s serve, as the Norwegian player went down 15-40. Ruud got out of serve by holding serve after a missed forehand return from Rublev and a good serve from the Scandinavian player. Two games later Ruud went down 15-40, but he saved a third set point. Rublev converted his fourth set point to close out the second set 7-5 forcing the match to the decider.
Ruud broke serve at love in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. He pulled away with his second break in the seventh game and served out the win on his first match point.
Ruud will take on world number 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinal.
“Tennis is interesting sometimes. I don’t know what I am doing better this week than the past few weeks but the only thing is serving. I am serving really well. It is tough to play against the best players in the world but nice because you feel you are an underdog and can play free and you know if you don’t bring you’re A plus level you will like lose. I knew coming into this match that a set was enough to qualify, so I was a bit nervous at the start. So when I got that first set I could breath out a little. I still focused on the match and finished with a good third set”, said Ruud.
Rublev ended the season with a record of 43 wins to 26 defeats. The Russian player placed fourth in the round robin group with a 0-3 record after losing to Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz.
