ATP Barcellona: Ruud raggiunge la finale come primo finalista, mentre Etcheverry esce non senza rimpianti

Match Report: Casper Ruud prevails over Tomas Etcheverry in a hard-fought battle

Casper Ruud secured a victory over Tomas Etcheverry in a thrilling encounter in Barcelona. The 25-year-old from Oslo and world number 6, continues to add to his impressive record in 2024 with 28 wins under his belt. Although he has reached three finals (Montecarlo, Acapulco, and Los Cabos) this year, he is yet to claim a title. Today, he faced off against the 24-year-old Argentine, ranked number 30 in the world, in a challenging match that saw both players fighting hard from the baseline.

Ruud had the opportunity to claim a title higher than an ATP 250 for the first time in his career. With 10 career titles, all in the ATP 250 category, the time seems right for him to add more prestigious trophies to his collection, starting with the ATP 500 in Barcelona, a tournament rich in history.

The match began with both players comfortably holding serve until the sixth game when Etcheverry earned the first break point. Ruud, however, responded with a powerful cross-court forehand winner, breaking Etcheverry’s serve. Despite a slight hiccup in the following game that allowed Etcheverry to break back, Ruud managed to secure the first set in a tense tiebreak.

The second set saw Ruud take an early break lead, but Etcheverry fought back to level the score. However, a series of errors from the Argentine gifted Ruud another break, which proved to be decisive as Ruud closed out the match in a solid fashion.

Although not his best performance in terms of tennis quality, Ruud’s steady play and ability to weather challenges were key to his victory. Looking ahead, Ruud is focused on preparing for his next match and possibly facing Stefanos Tsitsipas, with whom he shares a competitive history.

In conclusion, Ruud’s hard-fought win against Etcheverry sets the stage for what could be a significant milestone in his career.