By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, July 17, 2021
Casper Ruud rolled through eight straight points closing a 6-1, 6-4 win over Roberto Carballes Baena on the red clay of Bastad to reach his fifth ATP final.
Photo credit: @liljasinstagram/Nordea Open Tennis Facebook
Casper Ruud continues to clean up on clay.
The top-seeded Ruud rolled through eight straight points closing a trip to his fifth career final with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Roberto Carballes Baena on the red clay of Bastad.
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Ruud converted five of eight break points and won 13 of 18 points played on the Spaniard's second serve in a 79-minute triumph.
It's Ruud's second final of the season. The 13th-ranked Ruud defeated Pablo Andujar and Denis Shapovalov in succession in May to collect his second career title on the red clay of Geneva.
Ruud scored his 19th clay-court win of the season moving into his fifth ATP final.
“I am looking forward to the final," Ruud said afterward. "It is my fifth final of my career, and I am looking to make it three titles and my second one this year. I hope we can have some Scandinavian cheering.”
The 22-year-old Ruud will play for his third career title tomorrow when he takes on maiden ATP finalist Federico Coria.
Playing what he called the best tennis of his career, Coria crushed Yannik Hanfmann 6-2, 6-1 in his semifinal sweep. Coria did not face a break point in a one hour, 11-minute victory.
"I am very happy. It is my first final tomorrow," Coria said. "I played the best tennis of my life today here in Bastad. It is amazing. It is beautiful."