‘Lucky No. 7’ for Casper Ruud after beating Jack Draper to clinch Madrid Open
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Norway's Casper Ruud posing with his Madrid Open trophy after defeating Jack Draper in the final on May 4.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MADRID – Casper Ruud joked seven was his lucky number after claiming the most important trophy of his career in his seventh big final as he beat Jack Draper on May 4 to win the Madrid Open.
The Norwegian, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, earned his first Masters 1000 triumph with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over the Briton in a 2½-hour tussle at the Manolo Santana Stadium.
Rising star Draper, who rose to fifth above Novak Djokovic when the world ranking was updated on May 5, was hoping to add to his Indian Wells title in March, but Ruud prevailed in his third Masters final.
“This was my seventh big final if you count them all, so seven is a lucky number, I guess,” said Ruud with a laugh.
“So it was worth the wait in the end. I’ve never really been too close in any of the finals when I look back – I’ve lost the majority of them in straight sets.”
After his previous struggles on the big occasion, also losing in the 2022 ATP Finals showpiece to Djokovic, Ruud was grateful to triumph in the Spanish capital.
“It is a mix somewhat of relief and happiness and just pure joy. I know, based on the last years that I’ve had on Tour, how tough it is to do well at the biggest tournaments, and I’ve never been able to get over the finish line as a champion, but today I was able to,” he explained.
Draper had been looking for the first clay-court title of his career.
“Congratulations to Casper on this win, you really deserve it – you were braver than me in the key moments. This sport is brutal, but I will keep trying. I think this loss will make me better,” said Draper.
The 26-year-old Ruud staged an impressive comeback from 3-5 down in the opening set, breaking Draper twice to take it 7-5.
The Briton refused to go quietly in the second, however, holding to love for 3-3 before breaking Ruud twice while making just one unforced error to force a decider.
Although Draper was more composed at the start of the third set, it was Ruud who seized the initiative, breaking the Briton to take a 3-2 lead and securing his first title of this stature after 12 ATP titles at 250 and 500 level.
Meanwhile, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka won her first WTA Tour title since the 2021 Australian Open after beating Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan 6-1, 7-5 in the final of the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, a WTA 125 tournament on clay in France.
“Kinda ironic to win my first trophy back on the surface that I thought was my worst. That’s one of my favourite things about life though, there’s always room to grow and evolve,” former world No. 1 Osaka, who became a mother in July 2023, posted on X.
The 27-year-old Japanese has struggled with her lack of power and accuracy as she failed to progress beyond the second round of any Grand Slam in 2024.
Osaka, who reached the third round of the Australian Open in January before retiring due to injury, is set to feature in the main draw of the French Open later in May. AFP, REUTERS
