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Casper Ruud is making fairly the behavior out of choosing up trophies.
The World No. 8 adopted up his 5 ATP Tour titles from 2021 with a primary of the brand new season on Sunday as he overcame native favorite Diego Schwartzman to win the Argentina Open for the second time.
“It’s been an unbelievable week,” mentioned Ruud after sealing his seventh ATP Tour title. “To come back again right here and attempt to defend the title not from final yr however from two years in the past has been a problem, and I loved each minute of it.
“Taking part in in entrance of all of the followers on this centre court docket was an important feeling once more, being again on clay, coming again to South America after two years, so I hope I can come again subsequent yr and attempt to do the identical.”
The 2020 champion recovered from a first-set lapse to quieten an energised house crowd and seal a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 win in two hours, 35 minutes in Buenos Aires.
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High-seeded Ruud had not dropped a set this week on his strategy to the championship match, however he discovered himself in bother earlier than regaining his composure to see off the dogged Argentine.
A high-quality begin noticed each gamers spurn possibilities to interrupt, most notably when Ruud despatched a forehand lengthy after a 42-shot marathon rally on set level that allowed Schwartzman to flee and go on to carry for 5-5.
The miss appeared to linger within the Norwegian’s thoughts and the Argentine took full benefit within the subsequent sport to safe the primary break of the ultimate. The World No. 15 went on to serve out for the primary set as uncharacteristic errors crept into Ruud’s groundstrokes.
Regardless of the setback the highly effective Norwegian nonetheless appeared to have the higher hand in most rallies and was a relentless menace on Schwartzman’s serve. The Argentine saved 4 break factors to carry in his opening service sport of the second set, however the stress started to inform as Ruud reeled off 4 video games in a row from 2-2 to degree the match.
Regardless of Schwartzman rallying to reclaim an early break within the decider, his spirit was in the end not sufficient to cease Ruud as he completed with aplomb, crushing a forehand winner on match level to scale back the Argentine’s lead within the pair’s ATP Head2Head collection to 5-3.
Schwartzman had ended a 13-year await an Argentine champion in Buenos Aires along with his 2021 title and he fought valiantly to repeat final yr’s heroics. The larger energy of his opponent’s ball-striking proved an excessive amount of, nonetheless. Ruud created 17 break level alternatives within the match and transformed 4 of them.
The Norwegian was delighted to style victory after going behind early on. “[There were] numerous ups and downs,” he mentioned. “I feel it was match general. Diego performed superb within the first set and I used to be struggling to get the details.
“I feel we had been each a bit nervous. I simply tried to struggle and keep in there the entire match as a result of I understand how issues can change in a tennis match and fortunately, they did my manner right now.”
Ruud was additionally hopeful that the victory would pave the best way for extra success in 2022. “It means loads,” he mentioned, “I feel that is the right begin and it’ll give me confidence for the remainder of the season and in addition for the subsequent weeks when I’m right here in South America.”
Ruud is now unbeaten after two appearances in Buenos Aires, and Sunday’s win prolonged the Norwegian’s successful streak in ATP 250 occasions on clay to 18.
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