Nordea Open: Top seed Ruud through to final, defeats Musetti

Norwegian Casper Ruud, the top seed, advanced to the final of the Nordea Open by winning against Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 3 seed, 6-3, 7-5 at the Båstads tennisstadion in Bastad on Saturday afternoon.

This was Ruud’s fourth semi-final of 2023, and 20th win on clay – only world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz has more.

The Norwegian now seeks an 11th tour-level title; nine of his previous ten have come on clay.

Ruud, ranked No 4, will face the winner of the match between Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, the No 4 seed, and Russian Andrey Rublev, the second seed, for the crown.

Scandinavians unite! 🤝@CasperRuud98 reaches his third final of the year in Bastad, outlasting Musetti 6-3 7-5!@NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/JNIT1kHqhW

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 22, 2023

Earlier in the tournament, the Norwegian beat Russian Alexander Shevchenko (6-2, 6-4) and Austrian Sebastian Ofner (6-3, 6-4).

Musetti, ranked No 16, edged out Matteo Arnaldi (6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6)) and won against Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic (4-6, 6-1, 6-2) in the previous rounds of the Swedish Open.

Bastad ATP250, other semi-final result (Båstads tennisstadion, clay, EUR 562.815):

• Francisco Cerundolo vs. Andrey Rublev