Ruud Survives Halys, Will Face Kecmanovic For Estoril Title

After a disappointing first three months, Casper Ruud is back in a final for the first time this year. The 2-time Slam finalist in 2022 reached the Estoril title match today outlasting 26-year-old Frenchman Quentin Halys in a thriller 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(7-2).

“It was another great match, a long match, a close and exciting match,” said Ruud. “I’m just very happy that it went in my favor. It’s just some points here and there that decide a match like this.

“Quentin has a great serve, great power from the baseline. It was tough for me to find a rhythm in the rallies but in the end I was just trying to stay there and make him play, and luckily it went my way.”

There were just two breaks in the match and of course none in the decider where there were no break points. Ruud overcame the Halys serve which pounded 16 aces and took full command of the breaker to reach his 16th career final. He is seeking his 10th career title, and his first since last summer in Gstaad (d Berrettini). It’s Ruud’s first final since 22 Tour Finals.

Halys was hoping to reach his 1st career tour-level final.

Tomorrow, Ruud will take on Serb Miomir Kecmanovic who rolled past Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 6-3, 6-1.

The 23-year-old Kecmanovic hit five aces and lost just three points on first serve and never dropped serve.

Kecmanovic makes his 4th career final. He is eyeing his 2nd career title, first since 2020 Kitzbuhel (d Hanfmann).

Ruud is 2-0 against Kecmanovic winning their last meeting at the 2019 NextGen finals.

“It’s going to be fun. Miomir is a good friend of mine, one of my better friends on Tour. It’s going to be an exciting match. To play each other in the final is going to be fun, for the first time in our career,” Ruud said of the final. “He’s been playing great, so I have to be prepared for a very tough match. He’s been winning straight sets and killing everyone almost. So I have to be ready and just hoping that I can play well and have fun tomorrow in another final.”

You Might Like:
Ruud Takes Out Defending Champ Baez To Make Estoril SFs; Thiem Falls
Ruud Reigns Supreme In Estoril, Tops Kecmanovic
Ruud Looks To Get Back On Track On The Estoril Clay; Hurkacz, Schwartzman, Shelton, Thiem n Field
Ruud Survives In Acapulco, Fritz Powers Past Isner; Alcaraz Tonight?
Rublev Rocks Ruud For 14th Career Title, Wins Bastad