Ruud delights UTS Oslo crowd, Final Four confirmed

Casper “The Ice Man” Ruud once again thrilled his home city as he beat Alexander Bublik, The Bublik Enemy, to confirm his place in the UTS Oslo Final Four.

With two wins, Ruud can no longer be caught at the top of the Group A table by any of his rivals.

He also set a record of 11 consecutive points won in his 18-12, 19-8, 10-18, 12-15, 2-0 sudden-death victory.

Bublik pushed him all the way, though, coming back from two quarters down, and using his drop shot to brilliant effect to force the decisive shoot-out.

And news followed later on Saturday that Bublik would progress to the Final Four anyway following the withdrawal of Holger “The Viking” Rune.

Bublik will face Andrey “Rublo” Rublev, whose win over Alex “The Demon” de Minaur confirmed his place in Sunday’s knock-out stages. Rublo had to come from behind to secure the victory, with the Australian sending down the smartest of cross-court backhands to take the first quarter, but the UTS Frankfurt champion was not to be denied, edging it 13-15, 18-10, 17-14, 17-12.

And The Demon confirmed himself as Ruud’s Final Four opponent with a comeback win of his own, defeating Benoit “The Rebel” Paire in sudden death, 15-19, 15-16, 19-11, 14-13, 2-0.

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