Ruud beats Nadal for the first time, in a hard court exhibition in Quito

The Norwegian tennis player Casper Ruud beat the Spanish Rafa Nadal for the first time on Sunday in an exhibition match in Quito that ended with two sets to zero (4-6 and 4-6), and where both athletes strove to please the Ecuadorian public.

Before some 12,000 spectators who practically filled the Rumiñahui Coliseum, in Quito, Nadal and Ruud offered a show worthy of the current number two and three in the world, respectively, in the ATP ranking.

Although this victory will not count for Ruud in the official records, the Norwegian can already say that he has been able to prevail over the Mallorcan tennis player before an audience delivered to see his rival, the only winner in the history of tennis of 22 ‘Grand Slam’ titles.

In official matches, Nadal remains unbeaten against Ruud after winning the 2022 Roland Garros final and, recently, in the Masters Cup of the ATP, held in Turin (Italy).

The Nordic seemed to adapt better to the conditions of the ultra-fast track that had been prepared for the occasion, with a synthetic terrain that became even faster and more electric. with the altitude of the Ecuadorian capital, located at 2,800 meters above sea level.

With these conditions, Ruud knew how to take advantage of his powerful serves and won many points with his forehand by taking Rafa to the bottom and to the limits of the court.

Meanwhile, the tennis player from Manacor sought to shorten the court and go up to the net very frequently, which gave good results and Ruud seldom knew how to hurt him at close range.

Nevertheless, the height made him miss several winners that he normally doesn’t miss, and that here they left him off the track, something unusual for him.

“It has been difficult to play at the height, but I promise to return to improve,” said Nadal at the end of the match.

“It has been an unforgettable experience. I have been able to see the center of Quito this morning and the reception has been spectacular. It is an impressive city”, he added.

There were also pleasant moments, when Nadal took a child from the public to play a point against Ruud and the constant inattention of the ball boys that the Spaniard took with philosophy and humor.

The Norwegian took the two sets by breaking serve in each of them and not lose his at any time, which made him a champion of the KIA Quito Bicentennial Cup.

This match is part of a Nadal exhibition tour of Latin America that It already took him in previous days to Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile and Belo Horizonte (Brazil), while after Quito he will go to Bogotá and Mexico City.

In Buenos Aires and Belo Horizonte he also faced Ruud, whom he won on both occasions and who will be measured again in Bogotá and Mexico City, while inn Santiago de Chile, the athlete from Manacor beat the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo.