Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz, winners of the first round robin matches at the Nitto ATP finals in Turin, will meet on Tuesday as the Green Group takes the court.
Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz are the two winners from the first round-robin rubbers.
Fritz’s win over Rafael Nadal wasn’t a huge shock; the Spaniard is coming off a lengthy injury layoff and playing on a lightning fast indoor court. Ruud’s win over Felix Auger-Aliassime was a proper upset. The young Canadian came into Turin as the hottest player on tour. He has three titles in his last four tournaments; Ruud defeated him in straight sets on Sunday.
The surface should favor Fritz. The American has a big game and this fast indoor court is suits his strengths (serve and a monster forehand). Still, Ruud has proven to be an excellent hard-courter–as evidenced by his run to the U.S. Open final. When he is playing well–as he did against Auger-Aliassime–he plays clean, solid tennis. Fritz’s serve and forehand might give him the advantage, but Ruud will be prepared to pounce if Fritz is a little off.
This will be the first meeting between Fritz and Ruud. World No. 9 Fritz endured a surprising upset loss in the first round of the U.S. Open, won the title in Tokyo, and then lost early in Vienna and Paris. Ruud hasn’t been in the best form, either, coming into Turin off a third-round showing in Paris and a 2-4 overall record during four fall-swing events.
It’s hard to pick against Fritz, but Ruud will make him work for it.
Cheryl pick: Fritz in 3
Ricky pick: Fritz in 3
WWW?
Fritz in three
Hello, Big Al!
I hope you are making time to relish the ATP Finals before the tennis drought kicks in.
I’ve become a Norwegian fan, so I pick Ruud in 3. The court and indoor conditions likely favor Taylor Fritz, but my heart says, Casper Ruud.
Yes taking time off work to savour every match.esp the doubles.
It’s a tough one to pick this. The commentators on prime going on about who the conditions suit best but they get it wrong.
The right player won. Ruud was the slightly better player for the duration of the match.
Ruud’s performance against Auger Alliasime was a slightly better result than Fritz beating Nadal.
Fritz didn’t do enough on the 2nd last point with the backhand after the net cord then had a brain snap with the forehand. That cost him the match.
High quality match, though. Both players are in solid form.