Buenos Aires, Argentina
ATP Final: [45] Casper Ruud (NOR) vs. [145] Pedro Sousa (POR)
Sousa was hoping for a different outcome in today’s final. He has been a professional since 2007 and at age thirty-one, today was his first time getting to an ATP Tour singles final. Thus, this was a big occasion for him; however, he was up against a player ten years his junior and one whose idol is the greatest clay court tennis player of all time, Rafael Nadal. Added to that, Ruud trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy; therefore, he was prepared to grind.
Nerves Derailed Sousa
Sousa was probably feeling the tension of the occasion and as often happens, once you fall behind it is difficult to regain your composure. The first set was over before Sousa could catch his breath. He competed much better in the second set, but Ruud was prepared that this time around he was going to make this chance count.
Ruud had one opportunity to break his opponent and that is exactly what he did. In 2019, Ruud made it to his first ATP Tour singles final in Houston. He lost the first set in a tiebreaker and although he won the second set, he could not fight all the way back to gain the victory. Today, the Norwegian made sure there would be no repeat of that outcome and he took control early in the match and never relinquished it.
Other Weekend Tennis Results
WTA: Kiki Bertens defeated Elena Rybakina 6-1, 6-3 to defend her St. Petersburg’s title.
WTA: Magda Linette defeated the nineteen-year-old Swiss player, Leonie Kung, 6-3, 6-2 to claim her second career WTA singles title at the Thailand Open in Hua Hin.
ATP: Gael Monfils defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4 to defend his title in Rotterdam and claim his second singles title of the 2020 season. This is the first time in his career that Monfils has won more than one singles title in a year.
ATP: Kyle Edmund defeated Andreas Seppi 7-5, 6-1 at the New York Open to claim his second career singles title; his first title since 2018.
SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (Getty Images)
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