20 November 2022 at 20:47 Ruud lost the final in the ATP play-offs Casper Ruud had already made history by reaching the final in the ATP play-offs, as the first Norwegian, but fell short against the veteran Novak Djokovic. – Thank you to everyone who pushes me, motivates me and helps me every day. There have been many ups and of course some downs this year. I’m already looking forward to next season, said Ruud after the final which marked the end of this year’s Tennis season. Ruud’s family and famous guests, including Djokovic’s friend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were in Turin to watch the final. Before the match, Ruud had stated that “Djokovic on a good day is one of the wildest and toughest things you can face,” and he was about to experience that. The Norwegian carried the confidence from yesterday’s semi-final victory over Andrej Rubljov into the first set at the Pala Alpitour arena. Djokovic won the first game, but Ruud equalized in the next. This is how the players followed each other, like cat and mouse throughout the first set, with three blank games in the middle. Ruud hung in well with the duels and played big at times, but it didn’t quite last. The opening set went to a tiebreak, and it was lost for Ruud, who led the last game. Djokovic finished it all off with a delicious forehand down the line. The Serb won the first set 7–5. In the second set, Djokovic continued his solid play, leaving the Snarøya boy behind. Ruud was slightly frustrated when it was 1-4 in favor of Djokovic in the second set, but he kept up with the Serb’s high pace and reduced it to 2-4. Djokovic won the next game when Ruud got a little too eager, and the Serb was one game away from the title. Ruud served to stay in the match, and he did. When it read 3-5, you could see a hint of nervousness in the Serbian. Ruud and Djokovic played evenly in the next game, but Ruud lost a marathon ball that went back and forth 36 times. Djokovic thus received match point. He sat it beautifully with an ace down the middle. The Serb went out of the final 6–3 victorious. It is Djokovic’s sixth victory in the ATP playoffs and he surpassed Roger Federer as the most successful player in this tournament. Ruud congratulated and took off his metaphorical hat to Djokovic and his tough season after the final. He also made sure to thank his fans and girlfriend Maria. The Norwegian has three titles from this year’s season, all on clay, from the Argentina Open, Geneva Open 2022 and Swiss Open Gstaad.
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Took his ninth EC title – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
