KITZBÜHEL, July 31, 2021
Casper Ruud has clinched his third ATP Tour title in as many weeks by lifting the trophy of the Generali Open in Kitzbühel, Austria. The top seed from Norway battled past first-time finalist Pedro Martinez from Spain 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in a rain-interrupted championship match on Saturday.
The World No. 14 won 64 per cent of his second serves and converted five of his 10 break-point chances to prevail after three and 28 minutes.
HAT-TRICK HERO 🎉
The moment @CasperRuud98 locked in 3 ATP titles in 3 weeks!#ATPKitz pic.twitter.com/HE5X2ulLXh
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 31, 2021
Ruud had the better start and was taking the opening set before rain stopped play for about three hours. When the players returned to the court just after 10 p.m. local time, Martinez raised his level under the lights in the second set and secured a late break of serve to push the match the distance. The 22-year-old Norwegian, however, fought back and raced out to a 5-1 lead as he attacked the Spaniard’s second serve to seal the victory.
“I am shaking all over my body. It feels amazing,” Ruud said. “I was very nervous at the end. I knew what I was playing for, three in a row is something special. What a day to play the final, rain on and off all day.
“I’m just very excited and happy that these three weeks are over, and that I won all of them.”
Ruud lifted trophies at the the Nordea Open in Bastad, Sweden and the Swiss Open Gstaad this month and became the first player since Andy Murray in October 2011 to win three tournaments in three consecutive weeks. The Briton was successful in Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai to achieve the feat.
Ruud, who also triumphed at the Geneva Open in May, will go up to No. 8 in the ATP Race to Turin. The Oslo native pocketed in Tyrol €41,145 in prize money as well as 250 ATP Ranking points.
Erler/Mieder cap dream week
Earlier in the day, Austrians Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler completed a dream week on home soil. The wild card entries defeated third seeds Roman Jebavy from the Cezch Republic and Matwe Middelkoop of the Netherlands 7-5, 7-6(5) to win their first ATP Tour doubles title.
Erler and Miedler were both making their debut on the ATP Tour and teaming for the first time this week in Kitzbühel. The home favourites won 68 per cent of their first-service points to secure victory in 90 minutes.
“It feels amazing, words cannot describe what happened today,” Meidler said. “We are happy, and in front of this home crowd, to win a first ATP Tour title together is unbelievable.
“We played well and the other guys played some good tennis. Our strength this week has been winning tie-breaks. We just focused on every point, we started well in the tie-break. We kept believing.”
A moment at home they’ll never forget 🏆
🇦🇹 Lucas Miedler & Alexander Erler defeat Jebavy & Middelkoop 7-5, 7-6(5) to win their first ATP Tour title.
📷: #GeneraliOpen/Alexander Scheuber pic.twitter.com/5iPa2lFkhx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 31, 2021
