Thomas Fruits
Turin (Italy) (EFE).- Serbian Novak Djokovic got it. He is already looking Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the eye with six Masters Cups after defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud in two sets, 7-5 and 6-3, at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, after a match that places him among the privileged. position of Master of Masters, which redeems him from a season marked by controversy and with which he pocketed the biggest financial prize in the history of tennis.
The Belgrade tournament couldn’t have been better, undefeated. He arrived with his objective clear and had no rivals on his home ground and in what is usually for him the best moment of the season. He takes the crown from the German Alexander Zverev after defeating the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Russians Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, and the American Taylor Fritz.
His final stumbling block, the one that separated him from glory he hadn’t enjoyed since 2015, was the Norwegian sensation, who reached the final in fine form, as a reward for a great season which remains without final touch which, in case of having reached it, would have been more than deserved.
But ‘Nole’ was really ‘Nole’. Connected, fast, precise and fiery, the Serb took a very equal first set and in which Ruud yielded, once again, to a great. He was able to take the lead early on in the second game, but he missed his double break chance and kept the equaliser. They came back to have another ‘break’ to go up 5-3, but Ruud held off the onslaught, clenching his fist as he held the serve, releasing some tension.
But the third time was the charm. There were too many concessions in front of a titan who this time attacked the ball and won the first set (7-5).
Ruud does not stand out for showing emotions. Neither positive nor negative. Neither on the track nor off. Pero se le notó incómodo camino a su asiento, como si supiera que tenía casi imposible remontar a su rival, mirando su banquillo en busca de una solución que nunca llegó y pensando, quizá, en las otras tres finales que había perdido a lo largo of the year.
Oslo’s worst omens were soon confirmed. Djokovic broke his second serve of the set and confirmed the “break” by winning his. Four against one in the blink of an eye, he put the game on track. The stands turned to Ruud, as they did all of Djokovic’s rivals, trying to enjoy a bit more of a final with a great level of tennis, but which seemed too short given the rhythm of the veteran of the tennis.
The Serb asked for support from the stands before the final point. He knew he was the winner and wanted to enjoy the moment.
An hour and thirty-two minutes after launching this final of the finals, ‘Nole’ signed a direct kick – the ninth on his account – which made him champion of champions, the oldest in history at the ‘having achieved, Master of Masters with Federer, automatically placing himself at the top of this prestigious tournament that continues to resist Nadal, the only great that he does not have in his showcase.