One year ago, #NextGenATP Norwegian Casper Ruud fell short in the second round of qualifying at Roland Garros. But this week, Ruud is only one step away from playing in the main draw at Roland Garros for the first time. The 19-year-old beat Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-2, 6-4 to reach the third and final round of qualifying. Earlier this year, Ruud qualified and picked up his maiden Grand Slam win at the Australian Open before falling to Argentina's Diego Schwartzman in the second round. “It’s been two good matches, four good sets, I haven’t dropped one yet. It was a big test today, especially the last one,” Ruud told RolandGarros.com. “I felt it was almost over when I had...
For the second straight week, a final in Portugal will feature a #NextGenATP star against a home hope named Sousa. Last week, it was Joao Sousa prevailing over Frances Tiafoe at the ATP World Tour stop in Estoril. And on Sunday, Lisbon native Pedro Sousa will battle Casper Ruud at the inaugural Braga Open. A first ATP Challenger Tour title of the year will be on the line, as Ruud and Sousa meet for the €43,000 clay-court crown. Ruud is bidding to become the first teenage winner on the Challenger circuit this year and lift the second trophy of his young career. He survived a tricky half of the draw without dropping a set, ousting fellow #NextGenATP Alex de Minaur...
Before he reached the Australian Open semi-finals last week, it had been the breakout week of his career. South Korea's Hyeon Chung sped through the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan in November, going 5-0 to claim the 21-and-under title. But Chung, who turns 22 in May, won't be able to defend his crown come 6-10 November 2018. Who might hoist the Next Gen ATP Finals “X” trophy instead? ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at some of the possible candidates. TWO POTENTIAL RETURNERS Andrey Rublev (Rank: 35; Age: 20): Tennis fans across the world should know Rublev's name after his 2017. The Russian won his first title at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag in July and became the youngest...
Casper Ruud is soaring both on and off the court these days. The #NextGenATP star, who is projected to rise to a career-high World No. 108 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday, enjoyed a break from the action at the Open Sopra Steria de Lyon to take flight in an indoor skydiving simulator. Watch: #NextGenATP @CasperRuud98 enjoys some time away from the court at the #ATPChallenger in Lyon, taking part in an indoor skydiving simulator. pic.twitter.com/R4Y7wKpR65— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) June 17, 2017 "It was so much fun," said Ruud. "More than I expected actually. I had a day off and the tournament helped us set it up so it was very cool." Ruud and his coach Pedro Rico...
More than a handful of #NextGenATP players advanced a step closer to the Roland Garros main draw on Monday during day one of qualifying in Paris. Norwegian Casper Ruud, a semi-finalist in Rio earlier this year, made quick work of Belgian Yannik Reuter, advancing 6-3, 6-2 in 67 minutes. The 18-year-old Ruud is trying to make his Grand Slam debut. American Reilly Opelka, seeking to qualify at Roland Garros for the first time, hit 14 aces to beat Spain's Daniel Munoz de la Nava 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. Opelka made his Grand Slam debut earlier this year by qualifying at the Australian Open. [ALSO LIKE] Opelka's countryman 19-year-old Stefan Kozlov also advanced, prevailing against France's Corentin Moutet 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. Greece's...