Top-seeded Casper Ruud overcame Federico Delbonis in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 after one hour 39 minutes, moving into his second final at the Argentina Open.
In his on-court interview, he said: “I think I played my best match of the tournament today, so it feels very good. It gives me confidence for tomorrow.”
“I knew it would be a tough match against Delbonis; he always plays well on clay and [hits] heavy strokes. I think we play quite similarly, and today I stepped up my game when I had to and played very solid throughout the whole match.”
The tournament brings back good memories to the Norwegian player, who won his maiden ATP title in 2020 at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old will meet the winner of the other semifinal, featuring defending champion Diego Schwartzman against third seed Lorenzo Sonego.
Last year, the World No. 15 became the first Argentine player to win the tournament since David Nalbandian in 2008, after beating countryman Francisco Cerundolo.
En route to the final, Ruud edged Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena and Argentine Federico Coria in the quarterfinals before taking out sixth seed Delbonis in the semis.
In his match against the man who faced Juan Martin del Potro in an unforgettable first-round clash, Casper won 64 percent of his first-serve points to his rival 57%, making the difference with the second, 87 to 53, respectively.
In addition, he converted four of nine break points opportunities he faced.
Going Strength from Strength
In 2020, the Oslo native kicked off his South American swing in Buenos Aires, playing the ATP 250 tournament’s main draw for the first time in his career.
He had just reached a career-high ranking No. 46 when he landed on Argentinian soil, soon finding his way to the top, finally toppling lucky loser Pedro Sousa to claim his first ATP title.
Ever since, the first Norwegian player to break into the Top 10 has come a long way, elevating his game to the next level. That same year, he would go ahead to reach the semifinals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome - falling to eventual champion and world number one Novak Djokovic.
Ruud kept the momentum going throughout the year, particularly on clay courts, ending his season ranked World No. 27.
On the rise, 2021 would become his breakout season, winning five titles from five tour-level finals across the year - four on clay, one on hard courts, following to wrap up in style, qualifying for the prestigious event, the Nitto ATP Finals.
Held at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy, the venue marks the season’s grand finale, featuring the world’s best eight qualified singles players and doubles teams.
In his Head2Head series, Ruud trails Schwartzman 5-2, though he prevailed in their latest meeting at Indian Wells, taking out his adversary 6-3, 6-3.
Against Sonego, Ruud leads 3-0, having faced one another for the last time in Vienna, Austria last season.
Speaking about the final, he commented: “I played against them both several times last year, and I remember a little bit, so I will try to look back at those matches and see what I did well.”
At the time of writing, Schwartzman led Sonego 1-0, winning a tight first set 7-5 over the Italian in one hour and seven minutes.