By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Casper Ruud shredded Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4) becoming the first Norwegian to reach the US Open semifinals and moving closer to the world No. 1 ranking.
Photo credit: Al Bello/Getty
Retreating so far behind the baseline to return serve, Casper Ruud could have left a silhouette of sweat on the blue back wall.
The fifth-seeded Ruud had his back against the wall and history in his sights today.
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A focused Ruud shredded Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4) becoming the first Norwegian to reach the US Open semifinals while moving closer to the world No. 1 ranking.
Playing beneath the closed Arthur Ashe Stadium roof on a rainy day inspired upward mobility in Ruud, who advanced to his second major semifinal of the season. Ruud raised his 2022 record to 43-15, while Berrettini suffered his 11th straight defeat to a Top 10-ranked opponent.
French Open finalist Ruud beat Berrettini to the ball and carved up the listless Italian at the outset. Playing near flawless tennis for two sets, Ruud ran through 11 of the first 13 games forcing Berrettini to play catch-up.
Things were going so well for Ruud if the true blue court was water, you'd have half-expected him to moon walk across it.
"That was a better start than I ever had before, I think, in a match," Ruud told ESPN's Pam Shriver afterward. "Everything was going my way. I was hitting all the spots I needed to plus Matteo maybe didn't serve as well as he usually does.
"I was able to take care of the chances that I got and I got a little bit nervous toward the end of the second set because things were almost going too well. So it's good. But sometimes you can get over-exicted and think you could walk on water which is not possible so I had to calm down a little and I was able to lucklly serve out the second set and third set was tough."
It could get a whole lot tougher—and even more rewarding—for Ruud who will face either Wimbledon finalist and long-time nemesis Nick Kyrgios or 27th-seeded Karen Khachanov for a spot in Sunday's final.
Kyrgios' electric fourth-round upset of world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev opens the door for both Ruud and third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz to supplant the 2021 US Open champion as world No. 1.
If Ruud reaches the final and Alcaraz does not, then Ruud will rise to No. 1 when the new rankings are released on September 12th. If both Alcaraz and Ruud reach the final, then the winner will become No. 1. If neither Alcaraz nor Ruud reaches the final, then 36-year-old Rafael Nadal, who was eliminated by Frances Tiafoe on Labor Day, will regain No. 1.
The 23-year-old Ruud knows the top spot is on the line, but says it isn't top of mind just yet.
"That's also on the line; I think there are Carlos and myself playing for it at the moment," Ruud said. "I don't want to think too much about it. Honestly, of course it's something all young players dream about. So if I'm in a position to do it lets see if I can accomplish it.
"Honestly, I had no idea I had a chance to become No. 1 when we started this tournament. I was very surprised now I'm in the semifinals lets see how it goes. Of course it's a little bit of extra motivation to dig in and even if you're down in the score to keep fighting, you never know what's going to happen. If I'm very very lucky I can leave New York as world No. 1 so I'm trying to go for it of course."
The Ruud-Berrettini match pits two players adept at running around the backhand to blast ferocious forehands. Ruud showed sharper footwork, more precision on his favored forehand and played with more energy and urgency for the first two sets.
Berrettini summed up the result simply: "he played a really good match, and I played a really bad match."
"I think he had the best start possible, and I helped him," Berrettini said. "Really nothing I can say more than the worst day of the tournament probably in the most important moment.
"Nothing today. I mean, I fought through, but it wasn't enough. I wasn't feeling my game. I wasn't feeling my mindset. I think he was feeling really good. Congrats to him. I told him. He also said he played unbelievable match. So, yeah, nothing I can say more."
Covering the court so quickly he shrunk safe space for Berrettini, Ruud ran down one dropper, sprinted back to pull off a dazzling tweener lob and won a sensational point on a Berrettini error.
A frustrated Berrettini tried to change it up and attack net, but Ruud dipped a backhand passing shot that eluded the Italian in the seventh game. Berrettini fended off a pair of set points and buried a forehand into the corner holding for 2-5 in the second set.
Set points saved and a three-game run infused Berrettini with a more positive perspective and new life in his legs.
The 2021 Wimbledon finalist broke back in the eighth game. An emboldened Berrettini curled a 124 mph ace down the middle capping a love hold for 4-5.
On this day, every time Berrettini made a push, Ruud whipped a forehand answer.
Seventy-two minutes into the match, Ruud danced around his backhand and rolled a forehand winner down the line for two more set points. Jamming a body serve into the hip, Ruud drew a netted error to take the second set. Ruud was one set from becoming the first Norwegian to make the final four of the US Open.
The finish line was visible, but Berrettini wasn't finished.
Contesting his fifth quarterfinal in his last five played majors, Berrettini burst out to a 3-0 third-set lead.
Serving for the third set at 5-3, Berrettini was trying to exterminate points with his forehand but netted a pair to face a couple of break points. Berrettini saved both sending a smash down the line on the second. Ruud ran down a drop volley and shoveled a sprinting pass the Italian could not handle for a third break point.
The Roland Garros finalist dropped way back to receive a second serve and sent a backhand at Berrettini's shoelaces drawing a netted volley to break back.
Intent on taking the first strike, Ruud raced out to a 3-0 lead. Ruud rapped a forehand down the line then attacked net to coax an errant pass for match points at 6-2. On his third match point, Ruud sealed a two hour, 36-minute triumph.