Long-standing shoulder problems would force the Norwegian to cancel on the advice of the doctors. According to information from father and coach Christian Ruud to tournament director Alexander Antonitsch, the defending champion would have wanted to open in the Gamsstadt.
“We are incredibly sorry. Casper would have liked to defend his title. He had to take too many painkillers this week. Without a break, the shoulder problems would get worse,” father Ruud told the tournament organizers. “Casper very much hopes that he can be back in Kitzbühel soon. We love Kitzbühel, that hurts us too.”
“Cancellation really hurts”
The cancellation is also bitter for the organizers because Ruud was the first player to have assured his participation at the beginning of the year. “Even if you know that such things can happen again and again in sport, it’s a real shock for us. The cancellation really hurts,” said tournament director boss Antonitsch.
In the grid of the main draw is now being implemented, the number five of the tournament Ramos Vinolas will take the position of Ruud. Lorenzo Sonego replaces Ramos Vinolas and will face Pablo Andujar. Sonego’s place is replaced by a qualifier or lucky loser.
Before that, Ruud had shown good form. In the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Gstaad, the top seeded Norwegian defeated Dominic Thiem’s semifinal conqueror, Matteo Berrettini, after 2:33 hours 4: 6.7: 6(4), 6: 2. The number two seeded Italian had led for a long time.
Ruud only managed to turn around in the tie-break of the second set, when he was already behind with a mini-break. Berrettini’s forehand suddenly dropped significantly. The Italian suddenly made mistakes, and this year’s French Open finalist used that to win the tie-break and the decisive early break in the deciding set (to 2: 1). Casper Ruud had previously unsuccessfully chased a break against the in-form Italian for two hours.
Ninth tour title for Ruud
For Ruud, who had won the titles in Baastad, Gstaad and then Kitzbühel within just three weeks a year ago, was happy about his ninth tour title, the eighth on sand and the fourth in Switzerland. “Of course I’m very happy with how things are going for me in Switzerland,” said Ruud afterwards. “I knew before the weekend that I had to find my top form to win the tournament and that’s exactly what I did.”
While Ruud Kitzbühel now has to let go, the finalist will come to Kitzbühel: Berrettini comes to the Gamsstadt and has a bye as number two. After that he meets a qualifier or Yannick Hanfmann (GER). Berrettini ended Dominic Thiem’s run in the semifinals on Saturday with a smooth 6: 1.6: 4.
Source: Nachrichten
