Casper Ruud says he’s not stating that Jannik Sinner is best than Novak Djokovic however suggests that he’s extra “terrified” of the Italian as a result of a minimum of he can keep in rallies with the Serb.
On Saturday night in Turin, the Norwegian tennis star received completely annihilated by the house favourite, who claimed a 6-1 6-2 win within the semifinal on the ATP Finals. From the beginning till the tip, it was a one-sided battle and Ruud by no means stood an opportunity after dropping the opening three video games.
When the match completed, Sinner registered 9 aces, 22 winners, transformed 4 of seven of his break factors and in addition saved the 2 break factors he confronted. The 2-time Grand Slam champion now owns a 3-0 head-to-head in opposition to the world No. 7 and has by no means dropped a set of their conferences.
“No, I do not suppose so, for my part, as a result of they play completely different tennis. I imply, I believe on TV it seems most likely comparable the best way they play. However Jannik hits a sooner ball than Novak. He would not allow you to breathe. With Novak you may play rallies. Not going to say simpler to play Novak as a result of he is the very best within the historical past. At the least with Novak you may play extra rallies and never be scared of Novak ripping, like, a bomb down the road or cross-court or these items,” Ruud stated.
Ruud: Sinner received me burdened and I overplayed…
In his very first service recreation, the Norwegian received damaged with just one gained level. By way of the primary three video games, he had solely three factors gained. And after getting utterly dominated proper from the gate, the 2023 French Open finalist began to panic a bit and it did not nicely in any respect.
After getting on the board within the fourth recreation, Ruud misplaced his serve once more within the sixth recreation as Sinner went 5-1 earlier than serving out for the match within the following recreation.
Initially of the second set, the previous world No. 2 managed to carry to his first two service video games and lead 2-1. However that was all from him since he misplaced the subsequent 5 video games and the match.
“I do not essentially like to match gamers as a result of everybody has their very own model. For me, you do not notice how briskly Jannik performs until you watch him play dwell and also you’re there within the stadium. On the TV, it is not honest, the velocity. I received to observe with him right here earlier main as much as the event. He additionally kicked my butt there. In a means I knew what I used to be going through right now. Generally you are feeling like gamers may play even higher in observe as a result of they play with no stress and such issues. However right now he performed rather well from the start till the tip,” Ruud added.
“I imply, I did not get a great begin so I get burdened and overplay a bit. Even the factors I performed rather well, he was there defending nicely. I ended up doing a silly mistake on the finish. It was all in all simply not my day. I am not going to say I might have gained if it was my day. Yeah, I hope I can play Jannik extra sooner or later ‘trigger it is a actually enjoyable problem although right now I misplaced badly.”
Ruud explains why his recreation would not work in opposition to Sinner
Even earlier than the Italian grew to become this dominant, he clinched two routine wins over the Norwegian – he gained their back-to-back Vienna conferences in 2020 and 2021.
In January, the world No. 1 crushed the 25-year-old 6-2 6-3 on the Kooyong exhibition. Nonetheless, because it was an exho occasion, it did not rely of their official head-to-head.
Following their newest conflict, Ruud acknowledged that he’s the kind of participant that performs affected person tennis and waits for his alternative. On the opposite aspect, Sinner has the facility and the standard. So when these two types, it’s the Italian’s that has the sting.
“It is extra type of typically a little bit of a ready recreation, extra affected person tennis. I really feel that may punish you in opposition to somebody like Jannik. I imply, when you have a look at the stats this 12 months, I gained over 50 matches and I misplaced 20 or one thing. All in all it is a great way of taking part in tennis. Towards somebody like Jannik, it is one thing lacking, positively felt right now and one thing I’ll know subsequent time I play him. Hopefully it is not three years till the subsequent time (smiling). I’ll have a brisker reminiscence of what it is prefer to play him,” the world No. 7 stated.
Judging by Ruud’s phrases, he’ll a minimum of attempt to change one thing subsequent time he faces Sinner.
