Casper Ruud puts Madrid final participation in doubt as he admits to ‘not ideal’ injury

Casper Ruud says he will get an injury ‘checked’ before the 2025 Madrid Masters final after experiencing rib discomfort during his semi-final match.

The Norwegian defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-5 to reach a second clay-court final at Masters 1000 level.

However, despite the accolade, Ruud received treatment from the tournament physio after just three games and appeared in significant pain.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish the match, honestly,” admitted Ruud.

“I felt something in my rib during the warm up, just towards the end before going out [on court], and I felt it in nearly every shot, especially the serve.

“Luckily, I got some quick treatment on it. There’s not too much you can do, you only have three minutes [with the physio]. So I will go and check it out more now.

“I got a couple of painkillers, which is not the ideal thing, but at the same time in a situation like this, you have to do that now and then.

I was able to just play one game at a time really. It was easing and getting better as the match went on.”

His semi-final victory also ensured that the former world No 2 will return to the ATP top 10 after leaving the elite group two weeks ago – when he failed to defend his finalist points at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

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Cerundolo had defeated Ruud in their last two meetings, including at the most recent edition of the Miami Open, but it was the latter’s ‘clutchness’ which proved fatal for the Argentine as he failed to convert on 15 of his 18 break points.

“Honestly, I went out today thinking I was a little bit of an underdog because he really slapped me around on the court in Miami a few weeks ago, and that’s not long ago, so I had no chance against him,” joked Ruud.

“Of course, clay, it’s a little slower, it sets off my shots a little better, my shots will be more effective than on a hard court but he’s become a really, really great player and competitor no matter the surface.

“It’s not like just because it’s clay I’m going to win every time, he beat me on clay a couple of times already also. I just tried to seek my revenge.

“I went yesterday and rewatched our match from the [2024 Paris] Olympics, that was the last match that I won against him and it was on clay so I kind of had that match in my mind and realised here in Madrid, it’s a little faster and anything can happen.”

If Ruud manages to win Sunday’s showpiece match, he will become the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 singles title since the category was introduced in 1990. In that final, he will face either Jack Draper or Lorenzo Musetti.

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