One Week Later, Ruud And Tsitsipas Meet In Again-to-back Clay-court Finals

BARCELONA, Spain: Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet in consecutive clay-court finals after they gained their Barcelona Open semifinals on Saturday.

Tsitsipas, ranked seventh, obtained the higher of sixth-ranked Ruud in straight units within the Monte Carlo remaining final weekend.

On Saturday, Ruud beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (6), 6-4, and Tsitsipas ensured the rematch with Ruud after he rallied previous Dusan Lajovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Tsitsipas improved to 10-0 on clay this season. The Greek seeks his twelfth profession title. He has a 2-2 file in opposition to Ruud, together with his commanding 6-1, 6-4 win final Sunday.

“I’m positive having performed somebody a couple of days aside, they’ll provide you with some new plans,” Tsitsipas mentioned of the ultimate. “These sorts of matches are tough taking part in again to again. I’m going to begin that by having restoration and work tomorrow in direction of the ultimate.”

Tsitsipas has misplaced all three of his earlier Barcelona finals in 2018, 2021 and 2023.

Ruud wanted to save lots of a set level within the first set in opposition to Martin Etcheverry.

“He may have simply gained the primary set,” Ruud mentioned. “I had some set factors and he had one. I’m very pleased with the extent. It was a top quality match, the most effective degree I’ve performed in Barcelona.”

Ruud has 10 profession titles — 9 on clay — however has misplaced all three earlier finals this 12 months. His final title was at Estoril in April 2023.

Ruud leads the circuit with 28 wins as he eyes subsequent month’s French Open after ending runner-up at Roland Garros final 12 months, one in every of three Grand Slam finals he has misplaced.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

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