FRISCO, Texas—Casper Ruud showed resilience, grit, and sheer determination on Saturday, clawing his way back from the brink of defeat to secure a hard-fought victory over Jaume Munar and book his place in the Dallas Open final.
The Norwegian second seed found himself just two points away from elimination, but he kept his nerve, turned the tables, and ultimately triumphed 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (4) in an electrifying semifinal clash.
A Battle of Nerves and Endurance
“It was 2.5 hours of pretty tense play,” Ruud admitted after the grueling match. “The last set was quite long. If you sweat a lot, you need to get some fuel back in the system and do your recovery well.”
Ruud knew he was up against a formidable opponent in Munar. The Spaniard had already knocked out two seeded players earlier in the tournament and had pushed Ruud to five sets in their previous encounter at the Australian Open. Munar, ranked No. 64, looked poised to pull off another upset when he found himself serving for the match at 5-4 in the final set.
But that’s when things took a turn. Munar faltered at the crucial moment, and Ruud seized the opportunity. Staying composed under pressure, the world No. 5 forced a tiebreak and delivered his best tennis when it mattered most.
A Tough Opponent, A Well-Earned Win
“He’s a really tough player because he moves really well, reads the game well, and comes up with incredible passing shots from defense,” Ruud said of his opponent. “You hesitate when coming forward because you know he can punish you, and he did, especially in the second and third sets.”
Despite those challenges, Ruud found a way to stay in the fight.
“I just tried to make him play every point and see how he would react. I know what it’s like to feel the pressure when you’re serving for it. You’re one game away, but those four points can feel like an eternity.”
The lively crowd inside the Ford Center at The Star certainly played a role in fueling Ruud’s comeback. Chants of “Ruuuuud!” echoed through the arena, a sound he’s come to appreciate—though he admits it sometimes sounds like booing.
One Win Away from Another Title
With this victory, Ruud advances to his 24th career final, his seventh on hard courts. Though 11 of his 12 ATP titles have come on clay, he has proven himself a force on American soil, reaching finals in five U.S. cities.
Awaiting him in Sunday’s final is either Canada’s Denis Shapovalov or American third seed Tommy Paul. Regardless of the opponent, Ruud is ready for the challenge.
“There are some really nice restaurants around here, so I’ll enjoy some good food and get to bed early,” Ruud said with a smile. “One last push tomorrow.”
A victory in Dallas would mark just his second ATP hard-court title—but if Saturday’s match was any indication, Ruud isn’t one to back down from a fight.
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