buenos20ruud_sousa

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1 Response to buenos20ruud_sousa

  1. Voo de Mar says:
    Points won by each set: | 28-14, 30-25 |
    Points won directly behind the serve:
    26 % Ruud – 13 of 49
    18 % Sousa – 9 of 48

    Thanks to that title, Ruud [45] not only became the first Norwegian titlist, he also surpassed his father as the highest ranked player from Norway (Christian was no. 39, Casper advanced to no. 34). For the 32-year-old Sousa [145] it was an incredible week. Prior to 2020, he was a player who spent the entire career drifting between Futures and Challenger events. He had never won two straight matches at the ATP level, and suddenly he won four as a lucky loser! After losing 2-6, 6-2, 2-6 to Facundo Bagnis in a the qualifying round, he defeated two low ranked players, then a non-reliable Monteiro in the semifinal and was awarded a walkover from Schwartzman in the semifinal. Paradoxically, Sousa suffered an injury (calf) in his quarterfinal match too! The final was a one-sided affair, it seemed like a record-tying “6-1, 6-0” in the making, but leading 2:0 (deuce) in the 2nd set, Ruud sent a forehand long off Sousa’s second serve and the Portuguese began playing with higher risk on serve which helped him to get four games. “I feel a great sensation now. It is what all players look for and dream. I am very happy with my career, although I know that I am still young,” Ruud said. “Buenos Aires will always be a special place for me, this is my first title.”

    Ruud’s route to his maiden title (37th main-level event):
    1 Pablo Andujar 6-2, 6-3
    2 Roberto Carballes 6-1, 6-0
    Q Dusan Lajovic 7-5, 6-1
    S Juan Ignacio Londero 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
    W Pedro Sousa 6-1, 6-4

    # Ruud trailed *3:5 to Londero in the 2nd set, he wasn’t close than three points away from defeat

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