Casper Ruud: It would be unbelievable to win third consecutive ATP title

World No. 14 Casper Ruud has admitted that it would be "unbelievable" to win his third consecutive ATP title. 

Ruud, 22, won Bastad two weeks ago, while he made it all the way in Gstaad a week ago. 

This week, Ruud has been through to the Kitzbuhel final and is he a win away from capturing his third consecutive ATP title. 

On Friday, Ruud overcame French Arthur Rinderknech 6-3 7-6 (7) in the Kitzbuhel semifinal. 

“When I won in Gstaad, I was already thinking about it a little, that maybe I can try and get a hat trick. That would be unbelievable," Ruud said, per the ATP website. "And now I have fought my way to the final here, and I have the chance to play for it tomorrow. I will try to fight even more again tomorrow.” 

Ruud happy with his performance 

Ruud made a great start to the match, having won the opening three games of the match. 

Ruud failed to convert any of his four set points in the eighth game but he routinely served out for the opener in the ninth game. 

As not a single break point was seen in the second set, the set had to be resolved in a tie-break. 

In the tie-break, Rinderknech saved two consecutive match points but couldn't save the third as Ruud escaped with a straight-set win. 

“I think I played steady the whole match and with few mistakes. That was the plan all along, to try to feed him with a lot of balls as much as possible,” Ruud said. “He has a lot of big weapons, but sometimes when he plays it can be high-risk and there can be mistakes. I think I did the plan very well.” 

In the final, Ruud will be fighting Spaniard Pedro Martinez Portero. 

It remains to be seen if Ruud can beat Martinez and claim his third consecutive ATP title.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3rJZSHs