Casper Ruud Wins Career Biggest Title In Barcelona

Casper Ruud, for the first time in his career, is the champion of an ATP 500 tournament which he clinched at the Barcelona Open on Sunday. 

The Norwegian outlasted his opponent, Stefanos Tsitsipas in two sets, 7-5 6-3 to lift what was his career biggest title. Both players were meeting for the second time in a week after Tsitsipas defeated Ruud in the final of Monte-Carlo Masters in Monaco. 

Ahead of the final, the pair had had their share of tough matches and Tsitsipas had remained unbeaten through 10 previous matches. For the Norwegian, he was making his fourth ATP final appearance this season before winning his first in Barcelona. 

During the final that lasted for 90 minutes, Tsitsipas enjoyed an early break at 3-1 of the opening set before Ruud rallied to level at 3-3. He converted his first break in the sixth game and wrapped up the opener with his second break on Tsitsipas' for a set-point. The deciding set saw a more aggressive Ruud, taking at early lead at 4-1 before clinching the title as Tsitsipas hit wide a forehand for a matchpoint to his opponent. 

"I wasn't playing my best tennis this week in Barcelona," Tsitsipas confessed. "But i was still able to find a way and get to the final."

Ruud is the first Norwegian inhistory to have won the trophy, and besides Kei Nshikori and Dominic Thiem, the 26-year-old is the third non-Spaniard player to have won the title in 10 years. Rafael Nadal, a 12-time champion, was knocked out of the tournament by Alex de Minaur in the Round of 32. 

"I'm super happy to do it here in Barcelona in front of a packed stadium and on Rafa Nadal Court," said Ruud. "It's special to me because I looked up to him all my childhood."