In a thrilling climax to the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open, Casper Ruud, the 26-year-old Norwegian tennis star, etched his name into history by capturing his first ATP Masters 1000 title on May 4. Facing off against Britain’s rising sensation Jack Draper in a gripping final at La Caja Mágica, Ruud battled through a three-set epic, triumphing 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 after two and a half hours of intense clay-court tennis. This victory, the biggest of Ruud’s career, marked his 13th career title, his return to the ATP top 10, and a historic milestone as the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 crown.
Ruud, a two-time French Open finalist and clay-court maestro, entered the tournament as the No. 14 seed, ranked world No. 15 after a rocky start to the 2025 season. His path to the final was a masterclass in resilience, as he dropped just one set across six matches. He dispatched Arthur Rinderknech and Sebastian Korda early, then stunned third seed Taylor Fritz and former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. His semifinal against Francisco Cerundolo tested his mettle, as a hip injury required a medical timeout, yet he prevailed 6-4, 7-5. “I feel good,” Ruud said after that win. “Another good win for me against a tough player that I lost to earlier this year, so nice to get the revenge. To be back in a Masters 1000 final feels great.”
Draper, the 23-year-old world No. 6 and No. 5 seed, was equally dominant, not dropping a set en route to his second Masters 1000 final of 2025, following his Indian Wells triumph in March. The left-handed Brit, who will rise to a career-high No. 5 in the ATP rankings regardless of the outcome, faced a gauntlet of Italian opponents, including a walkover against Matteo Berrettini, a rout of Matteo Arnaldi, and a semifinal thriller against Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti, winning 6-3, 7-6(4). “It felt like a key moment every point,” Draper said of the Musetti match. “The level was high from both of us.” His powerful forehand and improved backhand had analysts buzzing, with Andy Roddick warning that Draper’s “borderline untouchable” forehand could trouble Ruud’s defensive game.
The final, their first-ever meeting, lived up to its billing as a clash of contrasting styles. Ruud’s heavy topspin and clay-court savvy met Draper’s aggressive, flat-hitting approach on Madrid’s high-altitude clay, which plays faster than traditional red dirt. In the first set, Draper served for the set at 5-4, 30-15, but a costly double fault handed Ruud a lifeline. The Norwegian pounced, winning three straight games to steal the set 7-5. Draper roared back in the second, breaking Ruud to level the match at 6-3. The decider was a war of attrition. At 4-3, Draper’s second time violation cost him a first serve, and Ruud capitalized, breaking with a pinpoint forehand. Serving for the title at 5-4, Ruud held firm, sealing the match with a forehand winner on his third championship point. “If I was to win, it will be kind of ironic that I had a much better beginning of 2024 leading up to Monte-Carlo than I’ve had this year,” Ruud reflected pre-match, embracing the “third time lucky” mantra after losses in the 2022 Miami and 2024 Monte-Carlo finals.
For Ruud, the victory was a redemption arc. After slipping out of the top 10 following a Barcelona title defense failure, his Madrid run—featuring three top-10 wins—propels him to No. 7 and fifth in the ATP Race to Turin. “I worked a little bit with myself and especially the mental aspect,” he said, crediting a renewed fire for his resurgence. Draper, despite the loss, showed his mettle, nearly joining Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as the only players born in the 2000s with titles on all surfaces. “Casper is a two-time Roland Garros finalist and very accustomed to the clay,” Draper acknowledged. “He is always tough to beat so it will be a challenge for me.”
As Ruud hoisted the trophy, the tennis world celebrated his breakthrough. Social media erupted, with fans calling him “the King of the North” and praising his grit. With the Italian Open and Roland Garros ahead, Ruud’s Madrid masterpiece signals his readiness to chase Grand Slam glory, while Draper’s meteoric rise promises more epic battles to come.
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