Casper Ruud captures biggest title of career in Barcelona with victory over Tsitsipas in final

All 10 of his previous career titles came at ATP 250s, and now he adds a first ATP 500 title to his trophy cabinet.

Casper Ruud had been to plenty of big finals in his career, but always came up one win short—until now, that is.

The Norwegian has captured the biggest title of his career in Barcelona, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the ATP 500-level clay-court event on Sunday, 7-5, 6-3, avenging a 6-1, 6-4 loss to the Greek in the final of Monte Carlo seven days ago.

He was asked afterwards what his plan was for the rematch.

“Well, just to kind of give it to him a little bit more than last week,” he said. “In the final in Monte Carlo I was always on the back foot, too far behind, and he had too much time to control the game.

“A bit of a tricky start today—I got broken right away, not the best start—but I managed to settle in, got the break back, and then clutch time I broke him in the end of the first, which was huge.

“It’s been two long weeks for both of us, and it’s obvious that at some point fatigue is going to kick in,” the former No. 2 added. “I think we were both fit enough to play today, it’s not about that, but whoever won the first set today would have a big advantage.”

Speaking of big advantages after winning the first set, Ruud is now an incredible 26-0 this year when he wins the first set.

Casper Ruud had been to plenty of big finals in his career, but always came up one win short—until now, that is.

The Norwegian has captured the biggest title of his career in Barcelona, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the ATP 500-level clay-court event on Sunday, 7-5, 6-3, avenging a 6-1, 6-4 loss to the Greek in the final of Monte Carlo seven days ago.

He was asked afterwards what his plan was for the rematch.

“Well, just to kind of give it to him a little bit more than last week,” he said. “In the final in Monte Carlo I was always on the back foot, too far behind, and he had too much time to control the game.

“A bit of a tricky start today—I got broken right away, not the best start—but I managed to settle in, got the break back, and then clutch time I broke him in the end of the first, which was huge.

“It’s been two long weeks for both of us, and it’s obvious that at some point fatigue is going to kick in,” the former No. 2 added. “I think we were both fit enough to play today, it’s not about that, but whoever won the first set today would have a big advantage.”

Speaking of big advantages after winning the first set, Ruud is now an incredible 26-0 this year when he wins the first set.