Ruud dispatches Berrettini to reach U.S. Open semis, take aim at No. 1-ranking
Casper Ruud headed into the 2022 season with just one Grand Slam appearance that lasted as far as the fourth round anywhere and was determined to improve his record at the four most important events in tennis.
Then, a day before the Australian Open began in January, he twisted his ankle in practice and needed to withdraw. Hardly ideal. Just look at him now: Ruud is into the semifinals at the U.S. Open and has a shot at moving up to No. 1 in the ATP rankings, following a run to the final at the French Open.
The 23-year-old from Norway, who is coached by his father, former professional player, Christian, parlayed what he called "a better start than I ever had before in a match" to a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini in the quarter-finals under a closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on a rainy Monday.
He improved to 12-2 in Grand Slam competition in 2022 after making just two unforced errors in the first set, 11 fewer than No. 13 Berrettini.
"Everything sort of went [in] my favor," Ruud said. "I was hitting all the spots, all the shots that I needed to."
He completes it in three!<a href="https://twitter.com/CasperRuud98?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CasperRuud98</a> is impressive in his first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USOpen</a> quarterfinal. <a href="https://t.co/hENtZXSgcV">pic.twitter.com/hENtZXSgcV</a>
Berrettini's take: "After 20 minutes I was [down] 5-0. I don't know how really. I don't know what happened."
Ruud now will face the winner of the quarter-final scheduled for Tuesday night between Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios — who eliminated defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round — and No. 27 Karen Khachanov.
That was to
