ATP Tour Finals Highlights – Ruud beat Fritz Highlights: Casper Ruud has booked a spot in the semifinals of the ATP Finals 2022 as he clinched a thriller against Taylor Fritz on Tuesday night. He was pushed all the way in a night-session thriller but he held his nerve to defeat the American 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6) in two hours and 12 minutes. Ruud’s ATP Finals win over Fritz eliminates Nadal in group stage and clinches year-end No. 1 for Alcaraz: Follow ATP Finals LIVE streaming on VOOT & LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
First to the final four 👏
Congratulations, @CasperRuud98 #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/9FPX3EsXqk
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 15, 2022
- Rafael Nadal became the first player eliminated at the ATP Finals after his loss to Alissiame. The scenario officially confirmed Carlos Alcaraz will become the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP history.
- Casper Ruud overcame Taylor Fritz, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6), firing 14 aces to cement his return to the semifinals after reaching that stage on his debut last year.
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ATP Tour Finals: Casper Ruud holds his nerve to defeat Taylor Fritz in three sets, books spot in semifinals of ATP Finals 2022 – Watch Highlights
Ruud beat Fritz Highlights: Casper Ruud started the match by breaking Fritz’s first service game of the match to take a 2-0 lead in the first set. From then on, the Norwegian held on to his service games as he won the first set 6-3. In the second set, Fritz did not let his service game slip away and both the players gave a good fight. However after nine games, the American managed to get a break to win the second set 6-4.
The decider too was closely contested. At 2-2, however Ruud had an opportunity to break Fritz but the American saved it with a stunning diving backhand volley. The contest moved into the tie-breaker soon and Ruud stayed solid as he led 5-1. However Fritz managed to make a comeback as he grabbed the next three points to reduce the deficit to 4-5. A couple of errors from Ruud soon levelled the scores 6-6, but the Norwegian sealed his triumph in the pair’s first Head-to-Head meeting.
“Only a couple of points decide a match like this,” Ruud said. “Fortunately for me, they went my way at the end. I was 5/1 up in the tie-break and he turned it around. He played some great points and hit some incredible winners to come back to 6/6. I hesitated a little bit at 6/4, but that is normal. There was a lot at stake… I am sad for Taylor, but I was so happy to see that last forehand sail long. To book my place in the semi-finals felt great.”
Ruud is a three-time champion on the ATP Tour this season. The 23-year-old lifted trophies on clay in Buenos Aires, Geneva and Gstaad, and he will now compete in the semifinals of the ATP Finals for the second consecutive year. The Norwegian reached the same stage on tournament debut in 2021, when he fell to Daniil Medvedev.
After winning just two matches in four tour-level tournaments prior to Turin, Ruud was happy with the way he has regained his best form at the Pala Alpitour. “I think my movement has been much better in recent weeks,” Ruud said. “I feel I am moving better now than in the past months. You will face tougher moments in periods of your career when you are heavier in the legs, and they aren’t working. But here in Turin they are working well. Ruud will next face Rafael Nadal in the final group encounter.