Ruud wins maiden Masters title with Madrid Open victory
Casper Ruud ended his wait for a first ATP Masters title, as he edged Jack Draper in a pulsating Madrid Open final on Sunday.
Casper Ruud claimed his maiden ATP Masters title following a thrilling three-set victory over Jack Draper at the Madrid Open on Sunday.
Ruud, who had not won a set in his two previous Masters finals, earned an impressive 7-5 3-6 6-4 win over the Briton after two hours and 29 minutes in the Spanish capital.
Draper made a strong start after clinching an early break, but Ruud roared back and won the final four games in a row to edge closer to victory.
But the fifth seed responded in style in the second, reeling off four straight games of his own to take the encounter the distance. It was the first set Ruud had dropped in Madrid.
However, the Norwegian remained composed to seal the victory, clinching the title with a fierce forehand that Draper was unable to return.
"It feels great, of course. It's been a long time coming," Ruud said. "[It is] one of the really big goals I dreamed about when I was young, so it's an incredible feeling to accomplish it.
"I knew Jack had been playing unbelievable all year, and especially in this tournament, so I knew that if I didn't bring my A-plus game, I was going to be whooped around the court.
"Luckily, I played really well. Jack has become an incredible player, on any surface now. He's won titles on every surface except [clay], and he's already made finals here in Madrid.
"So it's an incredible year he is having. This is a really big boost for me, and I would like to keep it going."
A MASTERS 1000 CHAMPION FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME @mutuamadridopen | #MMOpen pic.twitter.com/HeN6OWQqA1
— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 4, 2025
Data Debrief: Third time's a charm
Having lost his last two ATP Masters finals, against Carlos Alcaraz in Miami in 2022 and Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monte-Carlo last year, Ruud ensured there would not be a hat-trick of showpiece match defeats this time around.
Indeed, since the format's introduction in 1990, Ruud is the first Norwegian to win an ATP Masters event.
He is also only the second player to win his first ATP Masters title in men's singles at the Madrid Open, after David Nalbandian in 2007.