Casper Ruud says he isn’t stating that Jannik Sinner is best than Novak Djokovic however suggests that he’s extra “terrified” of the Italian as a result of a minimum of he can keep in rallies with the Serb.
On Saturday night in Turin, the Norwegian tennis star bought completely annihilated by the house favourite, who claimed a 6-1 6-2 win within the semifinal on the ATP Finals. From the beginning till the top, it was a one-sided battle and Ruud by no means stood an opportunity after dropping the opening three video games.
When the match completed, Sinner registered 9 aces, 22 winners, transformed 4 of seven of his break factors and in addition saved the 2 break factors he confronted. The 2-time Grand Slam champion now owns a 3-0 head-to-head towards the world No. 7 and has by no means dropped a set of their conferences.
“No, I do not suppose so, for my part, as a result of they play totally different tennis. I imply, I feel on TV it seems in all probability comparable the best way they play. However Jannik hits a quicker ball than Novak. He does not allow you to breathe. With Novak you possibly can play rallies. Not going to say simpler to play Novak as a result of he is the perfect within the historical past. At the very least with Novak you possibly can play extra rallies and never be frightened of Novak ripping, like, a bomb down the road or cross-court or these items,” Ruud stated.
Ruud: Sinner bought me harassed and I overplayed…
In his very first service sport, the Norwegian bought damaged with just one gained level. By means of the primary three video games, he had solely three factors gained. And after getting utterly dominated proper from the gate, the 2023 French Open finalist began to panic a bit and it did not effectively in any respect.
After getting on the board within the fourth sport, Ruud misplaced his serve once more within the sixth sport as Sinner went 5-1 earlier than serving out for the match within the following sport.
Firstly of the second set, the previous world No. 2 managed to carry to his first two service video games and lead 2-1. However that was all from him since he misplaced the following 5 video games and the match.
“I do not essentially like to match gamers as a result of everybody has their very own type. For me, you do not notice how briskly Jannik performs except you watch him play reside and also you’re there within the stadium. On the TV, it is not honest, the velocity. I bought to follow with him right here earlier main as much as the event. He additionally kicked my butt there. In a method I knew what I used to be going through at the moment. Generally you are feeling like gamers may play even higher in follow as a result of they play with no strain and such issues. However at the moment he performed very well from the start till the top,” Ruud added.
“I imply, I did not get a superb begin so I get harassed and overplay a bit. Even the factors I performed very well, he was there defending effectively. I ended up doing a silly mistake on the finish. It was all in all simply not my day. I am not going to say I’d have gained if it was my day. Yeah, I hope I can play Jannik extra sooner or later ‘trigger it is a actually enjoyable problem despite the fact that at the moment I misplaced badly.”
Ruud explains why his sport does not work towards Sinner
Even earlier than the Italian grew to become this dominant, he clinched two routine wins over the Norwegian – he gained their back-to-back Vienna conferences in 2020 and 2021.
In January, the world No. 1 crushed the 25-year-old 6-2 6-3 on the Kooyong exhibition. Nonetheless, because it was an exho occasion, it did not depend of their official head-to-head.
Following their newest conflict, Ruud acknowledged that he’s the kind of participant that performs affected person tennis and waits for his alternative. On the opposite aspect, Sinner has the facility and the standard. So when these two types, it’s the Italian’s that has the sting.
“It is extra type of generally a little bit of a ready sport, extra affected person tennis. I really feel which may punish you towards somebody like Jannik. I imply, should you take a look at the stats this yr, I gained over 50 matches and I misplaced 20 or one thing. All in all it is a great way of enjoying tennis. In opposition to somebody like Jannik, it is one thing lacking, undoubtedly felt at the moment and one thing I’ll know subsequent time I play him. Hopefully it is not three years till the following time (smiling). I’ll have a brisker reminiscence of what it is prefer to play him,” the world No. 7 stated.
Judging by Ruud’s phrases, he’ll a minimum of attempt to change one thing subsequent time he faces Sinner.
