Imperious Ruud crushes Berrettini to make US Open semi-finals

Norway’s Casper Ruud will take on either Nick Kyrgios or Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals

AI / Reuters / Panoramic

September 6, 2022

Norway’s Casper Ruud produced a brilliant performance at the US Open on Tuesday as he beat Italian Matteo Berrettini, the No 13 seed, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

The fifth seed, who reached the final of the French Open earlier this summer, played almost flawless tennis for the best part of two sets and when Berrettini rallied in the third set, he came from a break down to clinch a well-deserved victory.

He completes it in three!@CasperRuud98 is impressive in his first #USOpen quarterfinal. pic.twitter.com/hENtZXSgcV
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2022

His reward will be a clash with either Australian Nick Kyrgios, the No 23 seed, or Russian Karen Khachanov, while he also keeps alive his hopes of becoming world No 1 when the tournament ends. Ruud must at least reach the final to stand a chance.

“I don’t want to think too much about it, honestly,” Ruud said. “If I’m in the position to do it, let’s see if I can accomplish it. Honestly, I had no idea I had a chance to become No 1 when I began this tournament. Of course it’s a motivation to dig in. If I’m very, very lucky I can leave New York as No 1. I’m trying to do it.”

One step closer!

Casper Ruud is into the #USOpen semifinals. pic.twitter.com/Zn2jEV8b85
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2022

Two unforced errors in first 13 games

Berrettini, who missed the French Open through injury and Wimbledon because of Covid, had been expected to put up a big fight as he tried to reach the semis for the second time in four years.

But Ruud, varying his return position cleverly and playing virtually perfect tennis, raced into a 6-1, 5-1 lead, making just two unforced errors.

“Yeah, that was a better start than I’d ever had, I think, before in a match,” he said. “Everything was going my way. Matteo maybe didn’t serve as well as he can and I was able to take advantage.

“I got a little bit nervous toward the end of the second set because things were maybe going too well, it’s good but maybe not always good because you think you can walk on water.”

Berrettini hit back to 5-4 but Ruud closed it out and though the Italian, the runner-up at Wimbledon last year, went 3-0 and 5-3 up, he couldn’t hold the advantage and Ruud won the tiebreak to become the first Norwegian man to make the last four at the US Open.

Ruud on his father Christian: “He deserves all the credit he can get”

Ruud then paid tribute to his father, Christian Ruud, a former tennis professional who has been there every step of the way for his son.

“We have a great relationship,” Ruud said. “He’s always there in the box. He’s a great father, he’a a great coach. He just turned 50 last week, he deserves all the credit he can get. He’s been pushing me since I could barely walk, he’s wanted me to play tennis and do the things that I love.”

The Norwegian lost three sets on his road to the semis. He won against Kyle Edmund (6-3, 7-5, 6-2), Dutchman Tim van Rijthoven (6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), American Tommy Paul, the No 29 seed (7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-0) and French lucky loser Corentin Moutet (6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-2) in the previous rounds of the Flushing Meadows.

Berrettini: “I played a really bad match”

Berrettini was struggling physically during his two last matches in New York and he will leave New York with a sorry record against top-10 players in Grand Slams, his defeat to Ruud his 11th in 11 meetings with top-10 players.

“I think he had the best start possible, and I helped him,” he said. He played a really good match, and I played a really bad match.

“Really nothing I can say more than the worst day of the tournament probably in the most important moment. Nothing today. I mean, I fought through, but it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t feeling my game. I wasn’t feeling my mindset. I think he was feeling really good.”

Earlier in the tournament, Berrettini, ranked No 14, won against Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry (6-2, 6-3, 6-3), French lucky loser Hugo Grenier (2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7)), Andy Murray (6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-3) and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2).