‘I wanted revenge’ - Casper Ruud eliminates Ben Shelton in Barcelona Open to reach last 16

Casper Ruud began his Barcelona Open campaign with a straight sets “revenge” victory over American Ben Shelton. The third seed won 6-2 7-6(1) to move into the last 16 and get his own back on the upset Shelton caused him at the Western and Southern Open last August. Ad Ruud comfortably rallied through the first set before Shelton fought back from a 3-5 deficit in the second set to force a tie-break, but Ruud’s experience on clay showed as he wrapped up the match in 70 minutes.

ATP BarcelonaHighlights: Ruud advances to the quarter-finals at Barcelona Open after beating SheltonAN HOUR AGO “He was playing great, and I think I was playing great,” said Ruud. “I played a perfect first set and he was making maybe a few too many mistakes… But I think all throughout the second set was tough games, tough rallies. “It can be difficult.

In the first set you feel like you get a lot of free points, and so on, but then suddenly he starts playing almost like a wall and playing really good from on defence. “It’s tough when someone changes in the middle of the match, but I’m very happy that I was able to stay calm and play a very good tie-break.” The world No. 3’s triumph means the pair are now tied on the head-to-head with a win apiece, and Ruud finally getting Shelton back for the then-No.

229-ranked player’s victory in Ohio last summer. “Obviously I wanted my revenge,” said Ruud when asked the previous defeat had given him extra motivation. “Different surface, different continent, different tournament… I felt like I had a little bit more time here to build the points on clay, which is normal.