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World No. 8 Casper Ruud was happy with the way he performed in his first match of the season as he is aiming to defend his Buenos Aires title. Ruud, seeded at No. 1, had a first round bye at the tournament as he defeated Carballes Baena 7-6 (2) 6-3 to progress into the Buenos Aires quarterfinal.
“It was a good start. First time playing on clay in six months, so everything is a bit new again,” Ruud said after beating Carballes Baena, per the ATP Tour website. “Of course I prefer to play on clay, but it takes some time to get used to the court and playing points”.
Ruud aims to defend his Buenos Aires title
Carballes Baena claimed the first break of the match in the fifth game but Ruud broke back in the sixth game to level the set at three games apiece. Ruud failed to convert a set point in the 12th game but dominated the tie-break to win a tight opener.
Ruud blew an early second set break but broke Carballes Baena again in the seventh and ninth games to seal a straight-set win. “I feel, obviously, very good in Buenos Aires. I was a bit nervous coming back because it’s the first time I have to defend a title,” Ruud acknowledged.
“Everything is a bit different since two years ago. When I won here it was a surprise. I was young”. Ruud will be fighting home favorite Federico Coria for a place in the Buenos Aires semifinal. Ruud and Coria know each other as the Norwegian beat the Argentine in last year's Bastad final.
“I know Federico well,” Ruud said. “Last year we played in Bastad, so it was my home court, and now we’re playing here in Buenos Aires, so it’s his home. It will be tough for me, and I hope I can play a good match and of course feel again the good energy from the stadium”.