Tennis: Brooksby delivers Ruud shock to send second seed crashing, ‘long way back’ for Zverev
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Casper Ruud of Norway in action against Jenson Brooksby at the Australian Open.
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MELBOURNE – Being at the top of the rankings will not matter much at Grand Slams if a player is not fit enough, or that there is a pain factor affecting his game, as was the case with second seed Casper Ruud on Thursday.
However, the Norwegian refused to blame an abdominal injury after being sent packing from the Australian Open by American Jenson Brooksby, a day after top seed Rafael Nadal also went out after injuring his hip.
The 24-year-old Ruud, who took a medical time-out after the second set, succumbed 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2 in the second round to the 39th-ranked Brooksby on Rod Laver Arena.
His early exit left the tournament without its top two seeds in the first week after Nadal’s shock loss on the same court to another American in Mackenzie McDonald.
“I gave it my all, but in the fourth set especially wasn’t enough. The first two sets were sort of closer, but I ended up getting broken a bit too many times,” said the world No. 3 Ruud.
“I will try to learn from it. I think that he played great today.”
His defeat ended any immediate hope he had of assuming the world No. 1 ranking from Carlos Alcaraz, who is absent from Melbourne, also with an injury.
Ruud enjoyed a breakthrough 2022, reaching the final of both the French and US Opens, and was one of the favourites to win the Australian Open.
He added that he felt “tension and some slight pain in my abdominal” but said it was not responsible for the surprisingly one-sided defeat.
“It’s something that has actually been with me for around two years. It just sort of tightens up my left side from serving,” he said.
“It didn’t affect me a lot, but I felt it a little bit in the second set. I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Nadal was not so lucky after confirming that he will be out for up to eight weeks after suffering a left hip flexor injury.
The 36-year-old Spaniard wrote on Twitter that scans showed a moderate muscle tear. Thankfully for him, however, it will not require surgery.
Brooksby, who was making his Australian Open debut, will face Tommy Paul next after his fellow American beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets.
“First and foremost, Casper is a warrior. I knew it would be a great battle out there,” said the 22-year-old.
“I’m just really proud of my mental resolve after the third-set battle didn’t go my way, and to turn it around.”
Eighth seed Taylor Fritz also tumbled out of the Australian Open on Thursday, ousted by wildcard local hope Alex Popyrin who was in tears at the end.
The American Fritz, who impressed in 2022 with titles at Indian Wells, Tokyo and Eastbourne, fell in five gruelling sets at a partisan John Cain Arena.
Popyrin prevailed 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2.
“This is a dream and I don’t want to wake up at all,” said the Australian, who equalled his best Grand Slam result and was reduced to tears by the crowd chanting his name.
“Pre-season I put my head down and worked as hard as I possibly could... I’m going to keep working. I love this feeling and I want more of this feeling.”
Meanwhile, struggling former world No. 2 Alexander Zverev admitted he still had a long road to travel on his injury recovery after losing in the second round as well.
The German 12th seed lost to the 107th-ranked Michael Mmoh 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena. It followed two defeats at the recent United Cup, Zverev’s first ATP matches since tearing ankle ligaments at the French Open last June.
“I know where I am physically. I guess I still have a long way back to where I was,” he said. AFP, REUTERS
