A small clay-court tournament in which he was a heavy favorite on paper from the start appears to be just what the doctor ordered for Casper Ruud.
The 24-year-old Norwegian had been in a terrible funk to begin the season but has now won back-to-back matches for the first time in 2023. Victories over Joao Sousa and Sebastian Baez have Ruud in the Estoril Open semifinals against Quentin Halys on Saturday afternoon. Ruud’s last four set scores are 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, 6-0–the last two against an extremely talented clay-courter in Baez.
Halys is playing great, but this is his first-ever ATP semifinal. It’s a big occasion for the Frenchman, and one that will likely be too tough especially against one of the best clay-courters in the world.
Pick: Ruud in 2
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