Casper Ruud says he isn’t stating that Jannik Sinner is best than Novak Djokovic however suggests that he’s extra “terrified” of the Italian as a result of no less than he can keep in rallies with the Serb.
On Saturday night in Turin, the Norwegian tennis star bought completely annihilated by the house favourite, who claimed a 6-1 6-2 win within the semifinal on the ATP Finals. From the beginning till the tip, it was a one-sided battle and Ruud by no means stood an opportunity after dropping the opening three video games.
When the match completed, Sinner registered 9 aces, 22 winners, transformed 4 of seven of his break factors and likewise saved the 2 break factors he confronted. The 2-time Grand Slam champion now owns a 3-0 head-to-head towards the world No. 7 and has by no means dropped a set of their conferences.
“No, I do not assume so, in my view, as a result of they play completely different tennis. I imply, I feel on TV it appears most likely comparable the best way they play. However Jannik hits a sooner ball than Novak. He does not allow you to breathe. With Novak you’ll be able to play rallies. Not going to say simpler to play Novak as a result of he is the most effective within the historical past. A minimum of with Novak you’ll be able to play extra rallies and never be afraid of Novak ripping, like, a bomb down the road or cross-court or these items,” Ruud stated.
Ruud: Sinner bought me harassed and I overplayed…
In his very first service recreation, the Norwegian bought damaged with just one gained level. By way of the primary three video games, he had solely three factors gained. And after getting fully dominated proper from the gate, the 2023 French Open finalist began to panic a bit and it did not properly in any respect.
After getting on the board within the fourth recreation, Ruud misplaced his serve once more within the sixth recreation as Sinner went 5-1 earlier than serving out for the match within the following recreation.
Firstly of the second set, the previous world No. 2 managed to carry to his first two service video games and lead 2-1. However that was all from him since he misplaced the subsequent 5 video games and the match.
“I do not essentially like to check gamers as a result of everybody has their very own type. For me, you do not notice how briskly Jannik performs until you watch him play reside and also you’re there within the stadium. On the TV, it isn’t truthful, the velocity. I bought to follow with him right here earlier main as much as the event. He additionally kicked my butt there. In a method I knew what I used to be going through right this moment. Generally you are feeling like gamers would possibly play even higher in follow as a result of they play with no strain and such issues. However right this moment he performed rather well from the start till the tip,” Ruud added.
“I imply, I did not get a great begin so I get harassed and overplay a bit. Even the factors I performed rather well, he was there defending properly. I ended up doing a silly mistake on the finish. It was all in all simply not my day. I am not going to say I might have gained if it was my day. Yeah, I hope I can play Jannik extra sooner or later ‘trigger it is a actually enjoyable problem regardless that right this moment I misplaced badly.”
Ruud explains why his recreation does not work towards Sinner
Even earlier than the Italian turned this dominant, he clinched two routine wins over the Norwegian – he gained their back-to-back Vienna conferences in 2020 and 2021.
In January, the world No. 1 crushed the 25-year-old 6-2 6-3 on the Kooyong exhibition. Nonetheless, because it was an exho occasion, it did not depend of their official head-to-head.
Following their newest conflict, Ruud acknowledged that he’s the kind of participant that performs affected person tennis and waits for his alternative. On the opposite facet, Sinner has the ability and the standard. So when these two types, it’s the Italian’s that has the sting.
“It is extra form of typically a little bit of a ready recreation, extra affected person tennis. I really feel which may punish you towards somebody like Jannik. I imply, for those who take a look at the stats this yr, I gained over 50 matches and I misplaced 20 or one thing. All in all it is a great way of enjoying tennis. Towards somebody like Jannik, it is one thing lacking, positively felt right this moment and one thing I’ll know subsequent time I play him. Hopefully it isn’t three years till the subsequent time (smiling). I’ll have a brisker reminiscence of what it is prefer to play him,” the world No. 7 stated.
Judging by Ruud’s phrases, he’ll no less than attempt to change one thing subsequent time he faces Sinner.
