Norwegian tennis player Casper Ruud showed his tenacity and resilience as he fought his way into his 20th ATP final, defeating Holger Rune in a thrilling Mexican Open semifinal. Ruud’s victory over the No. 7-ranked Rune marked his 11th Top 10 win and his seventh on hard courts.
Despite Rune’s strong start, Ruud refused to back down and clawed back into contention, eventually securing a hard-fought victory after two hours and 23 minutes of intense battle. This win marks Ruud’s first ATP 500 final, completing an impressive career set with at least one final at every level of tour-level event.
Ruud had a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over Rune going into the match, but Rune controlled the early stages. After losing the second set, Rune held leads in the third set but ultimately succumbed to Ruud’s persistence as he won the final four games to clinch the match.
In the final, Ruud will face world no. 9 Alex de Minaur, a tough opponent known for his speed and skill on the court. While De Minaur has an edge with a previous victory over Ruud, the Norwegian will look to claim his biggest title yet, while De Minaur aims to tie his biggest title with a win at the Mexican Open.
