Jack Draper was denied a second Masters 1000 title in as many months and first ATP match win on clay after shedding in three units to two-time French Open finalist Casper Ruud.
Ruud triumphed 7-5 3-6 6-4 within the Spanish capital to safe his maiden Masters 1000 title on the third try after happening to Carlos Alcaraz in Miami in 2022 and Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo final 12 months.
Draper – Indian Wells champion in March – was 5-3 up within the first set however then misplaced 4 video games in a row and was visibly indignant after surrendering such a robust place.
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Draper was livid with himself after shedding the primary set
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Ruud is a Masters 1000 winner on the third time of asking
He rallied within the second set, breaking his Norwegian opponent at 3-3 after which holding serve after dealing with two break factors.
Each males normal alternatives to interrupt early within the decider however it was Ruud who lastly did so at 2-2 and, after a couple of nervy moments in a while, he wrapped up victory by holding serve to like after a collection of coruscating forehands.
Had Draper prevailed, he would have been solely 25 factors behind world No 4 Taylor Fritz within the official ATP rankings.
The British No 1 was already assured of leapfrogging Novak Djokovic and getting into the world’s high 5 for the primary time after defeating Matteo Arnaldi within the quarter-finals in Madrid.
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Novak Djokovic has been usurped as world No 5 by British No 1 Draper
And regardless of this defeat to Ruud, he appears a robust contender for the French Open at Roland-Garros from Could 25-June 8, an occasion at which he has misplaced within the first spherical in his earlier two appearances.
Draper and Ruud will now play in subsequent week’s Italian Open in Rome, a match which can see the return of world No 1 Jannik Sinner following the top of his three-month ban.
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Talking to Sky Italy, Jannik Sinner stated his three-month doping ban was unfair and insisted he was harmless
An out-of-form Djokovic has withdrawn from that occasion, whereas Alcaraz will make a late name on his inclusion as he recovers from a muscle damage that dominated him out of Madrid.
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