Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud have played four matches during their South American swing, with Nadal scoring three victories ahead of their final duel in Mexico City. The first duel came in Buenos Aires, and Nadal scored a 7-6, 6-2 triumph at Arena Parque Roca.
Ruud grabbed a break in the opener’s fifth game and opened a 4-2 advantage. Rafa pulled the break back in game eight and squandered a set point on the return in game ten. The Spaniard saved three set points in the tie break and clinched it 10-8 with a smash winner.
Nadal broke Ruud in the second set’s games three and five for 4-1 and held at love in game eight to seal the deal. Nadal and Ruud met again at Mineirinho Arena in Belo Horizonte. Rafa prevailed 7-6, 7-5 after digging deep in both sets.
Ruud led 3-0 in the opener before Nadal pulled the break back for 3-3. They served well in the rest of the set, and Rafa clinched the tie break 7-4 for a massive boost. Ruud saved a set point at 4-5 in the second set before Nadal broke him in game 12 to seal the deal.
Rafael Nadal is 3-1 against Casper Ruud in South America.
Casper finally beat Rafa for the first time in Quito, earning a 6-4, 6-4 win to deliver Nadal’s first loss of the swing. The Spaniard bounced back in Bogota, playing well in front of the Colombian fans and scoring a 7-5, 6-4 triumph.
The Norwegian grabbed an early break in the opener before a 22-time Major winner pulled it back. Rafa survived the eighth game and delivered a break in the 11th to secure the opener. The Spaniard moved in front at 2-2 in the second set and served well to wrap up the duel with a hold in game ten.
Casper held after deuce in the first game with a service winner and broke Rafa in game two after the Spaniard’s double fault. Nadal created break chances with a forehand winner in game three and seized the first after Ruud’s loose forehand.
Rafa locked the result at 2-2 with a forehand winner and held at love with a service winner in game six for 3-3. Ruud moved 4-3 up with a service winner and earned a break chance in the next one. Nadal denied it with an ace and landed a service winner for 4-4.
Rafa extended the ninth game with a backhand crosscourt winner before Casper held with a drop shot winner to open a 5-4 gap. Nadal stayed calm and clinched the tenth game with a forehand winner. The Spaniard created break points with a winner at the net in the 11th game and seized the third after the Norwegian’s loose backhand to gain the advantage.
Rafa earned two set points with a smash winner in game 12 and converted the first with a powerful serve for 7-5. Ruud held at 15 in the second set’s third game before Nadal grabbed the next one for 2-2. Nadal fired a forehand crosscourt winner for three break chances in game five and landed another on the first to grab a break and move closer to the finish line.
Rafa saved a break point in game six with a winner at the net and closed it with an ace for 4-2. The Spaniard painted another forehand winner in game eight, and the Norwegian reduced the deficit to 4-5 in the next one. Nadal held after deuce in game ten to seal the deal and celebrate his third victory over Ruud from four South American matches.
