Rud, claiming his first Masters title in Madrid, rewrites Norwegian tennis history.
In the early hours of May 5, Beijing time, the men’s singles final of the ATP1000 Madrid Masters came to a thrilling conclusion. The No. 14 seed and Norwegian star Casper Ruud battled through three grueling sets, ultimately defeating the No. 5 seed, Britain’s Cameron Norrie, with scores of 7-5, 3-6, and 6-4, clinching his first-ever Masters title. This victory not only marks a monumental breakthrough in Ruud’s career but also makes him the first Norwegian player to ever win an ATP1000 Masters tournament, paving the way for a new chapter in Norwegian tennis history.
Rud, though he has reached numerous major tournament finals throughout his career, has always come up just short of lifting the championship trophy. He's twice been runner-up at Grand Slams and lost in two Masters final matches, earning him the playful nickname "the eternal No. 2" from many fans.
Looking back at Ruud's journey through major finals: In the 2022 Miami Masters final, he fell short against Alcaraz; at the 2022 and 2023 French Open finals, he was defeated by Nadal and Djokovic, respectively; in the 2022 US Open final, he once again came up short against Alcaraz; at the 2022 ATP Finals, he succumbed to Djokovic; and most recently, in the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters final, he narrowly lost to Tsitsipas. Yet, instead of breaking him, these repeated setbacks have only strengthened Ruud’s unwavering determination to keep chasing the ultimate prize.
At the start of this season, Ruud was struggling, failing to advance deep into the tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and dropping out of the top 10 in the world rankings. However, after shifting his focus to Madrid, he bounced back spectacularly, stringing together impressive victories over a star-studded lineup—including Lindgren, Korda, Fritz, Medvedev, and Sinner—without dropping a single set along the way. His dominant run earned him a hard-fought spot in the final. Facing Draper, whom he had never played before, Ruud delivered a masterclass in mental toughness and tactical brilliance, ultimately securing a commanding victory.
At the start of the match, Draper broke first and took a 5-3 lead in the opening set, holding serve for the set point. However, at the critical moment, Ruud displayed remarkable resilience, saving the set-point opportunity and immediately breaking back. He then surged ahead, winning the next four games to complete a stunning 7-5 comeback victory in the first set.
In the second set, Draper found his rhythm, breaking serve early in the set and calmly regaining control to level the score at 6-3. In the deciding set, trailing with nothing to lose, Ruud put immediate pressure on Draper from the very first game—and finally delivered the crucial break in the fifth game, clinching a hard-fought victory with a 6-4 win after a grueling match that lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes.
In this final match, Ruud remained calm under pressure and boldly took the initiative to attack, especially shining with decisive composure when it mattered most. His outstanding performance not only secured the victory but also earned him the respect and applause of the entire audience. After clinching the title, Ruud excitedly pumped his fists, letting loose years of pent-up tension and joy in a triumphant celebration.
The Madrid Masters title carries immense prestige, as Ruud went on to defeat three Top-10 players on his way to the trophy: World No. 4 Fritz, World No. 10 Medvedev, and World No. 6 Draper. With this victory, Ruud now boasts 13 career titles, including 12 on clay. His world ranking has surged by 8 spots, climbing to No. 7, while in the direct qualification race for the ATP Finals 2025 in Turin, he has moved up 19 places to fifth in the standings.
For Ruud, this championship is the ultimate reward for his years of dedicated training and unwavering perseverance. He has proven his true strength through action, silencing all those who once doubted him. At the same time, Ruud’s victory sets a new benchmark for Norwegian tennis, inspiring more Norwegian players to chase their dreams on the tennis court.
