Casper Ruud: 'Roger Federer is a legend, I couldn't sleep the night before our match'

The 21-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud will finish the season inside the top-30 for the first time, winning 22 matches in 2020 and securing the first ATP title. Casper notched two top-20 wins at the ATP Cup against John Isner and Fabio Fognini, heading to his beloved clay in February and winning that maiden ATP trophy in Buenos Aires, becoming the first Norwegian to achieve that feat. After the season restart, Ruud was the semi-finalist in Rome and Hamburg, scoring two Roland Garros wins before losing to a two-time finalist Dominic Thiem in straight sets. A year ago in Paris, Casper met Roger Federer in the 400th Major encounter for the Swiss. Speaking about the match, Casper said he couldn't sleep the night before the clash against the 20-time Major champion, feeling the pressure and thinking about the upcoming rival much more than he usually does. Roger defeated Casper 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 in two hours and 11 minutes, advancing into the last 16 in Paris for the 14th time.

Roger suffered one break and converted five out of 12 chances, sailing through the opening two sets before having to work harder in the third, saving one set point at 6-7 in the breaker and wrapping up the encounter in straight sets. The Swiss star delivered 52 winners and 36 unforced errors, overpowering Ruud's stable 28-26 ratio and dictating the points in the way he wanted. Casper fought well in the opening six games before Roger picked up a beautiful backhand half-volley winner from the baseline to secure a break and a 4-3 lead. Serving to stay in the set at 3-5, Ruud suffered another break after a well-constructed attack from Federer, who landed a smash winner for 6-3 in 36 minutes. Firing from all cylinders, Federer blasted 17 winners in set number two, dropping seven points in his games and scoring two breaks - he grabbed four straight return games - to open a massive advantage and bring the set home in no time.

Casper Ruud was nervous ahead of Roger Federer clash at Roland Garros 2019.

Casper had no answer for Roger's slice return, netting a backhand in the second game and finding himself even further down when the Swiss landed a perfect forehand crosscourt winner. Roger saved a break point in game seven with an ace, delivering two more winners to find himself two sets to love up after 65 minutes. The youngster did some damage on the return in the third set's second game when Federer netted a routine forehand, staying in front only for a couple of minutes as Roger broke back with a forehand down the line winner. They both wasted break chances in games seven and eight, and Ruud was there to fight, unlike in the opening two sets, finding the way to keep service games safe until the tie break. Federer won it 10-8 after fending off that set point at 6-7 to seal the deal in straight sets and complete his 400th Major encounter with a smash winner,

"I don't remember every match that I have played. Still, you know some encounters very well, memorizing beautiful exchanges and the best shots. It was challenging to sleep ahead of the Roger Federer clash at Roland Garros, thinking about the upcoming match against the ultimate legend and feeling the pressure," Casper Ruud said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2JrZGdC