Stefanos Tsitsipas on the offensive
This tournament just seems to suit him. Stefanos Tsitsipas had already won the ATP Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo twice, and last Sunday he won the tournament for the third time. And that’s impressively clear: in the 6:4, 6:1 win against Casper Ruud, he didn’t really break a sweat on the sand under the Monegasque sun, even though his opponent Ruud even defeated world number one Novak Đoković in the semifinals in a strong tournament had. But what was missing on the final day?
There was a lack of respect for this Greek, who is so variable on clay, who happily sprinkles in sensitive stop balls, net attacks and dead-straight baseline shots on the red surface, while he always seems a bit tense on the hard court. With this childlike sandbox joy, Tsitsipas exerted a dominance that made the first set such a clear affair. Casper Ruud often only stayed in the game with moonballs, which the sinewy Stefanos was happy to shoot to win the point. The Norwegian desperately sought contact with his coaching bench between rallies, but ultimately found himself alone. Until he put up a little more resistance in the second set.
In tennis, it is often enough to present your opponent with a different image: a different serving angle, for example, or different shot combinations. Ruud did exactly that and made it 3-3. Until the Greek solved the puzzle and rolled over Ruud again in a variety of ways. It was a duel between two players who, on paper, have a lot in common – both 25 years old, both trained by ambitious fathers, both not far apart in the world rankings, the match record against each other after this final 2:2. However, this time it was not a duel on equal terms. Casper Ruud must urgently work on his final record: 10:11 overall, but all important finals were lost. Just remember his three defeats in three Grand Slam finals in the last two years. All ten of the Norwegian’s titles are 250cc. In contrast, Stefanos Tsitsipas showed the tennis world in this successful showdown in Monte Carlo that after a temporary crisis, he is a force to be reckoned with again. Also a co-favorite at the French Open.
