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The 22-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud was a player to beat in Bastad last week, returning to his beloved clay and seeking the trophy. Casper had to play only three matches last week en route to his third ATP title, dropping 13 games in six sets to earn 250 points and become world no.
14 again. In the final, Casper took down the first-time ATP finalist Federico Coria 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 26 minutes to lift the trophy and become the first Scandinavian champion in Bastad since Robin Soderling in 2011. Ranked outside the top-75, Coria did a marvelous job to advance into the final, two decades after his brother Guillermo played for his first ATP title!
Still, he couldn't challenge the better-ranked opponent in a battle for the trophy, scoring two breaks but dropping over half of the points behind the initial shot to suffer five breaks that pushed Ruud over the top. The Argentine saved match points at 2-5 in the second set to prolong his chances before the Norwegian sealed the deal in the next one to celebrate the crown.
Casper Ruud claimed the third ATP title in Bastad.
Making a strong start, Casper landed a forehand down the line winner in the second game to grab a break and gain early confidence. Ruud cemented the break with a hold at love in game three and saved Coria's four game chances in the next one to clinch another break and open a 4-0 lead.
The Norwegian hit a terrible serve in the fifth game to suffer a break, and they both served well in the remaining ones. Ruud held at love in game seven and repeated that with a perfect forehand winner at 5-3 to claim the opener and move closer to the finish line.
Coria stayed in touch with Ruud at the beginning of the second set and held after deuce to open a 2-1 gap. That all changed at 2-2 when Casper placed a backhand down the line winner to earn a break and make a giant step towards the finish line.
Federico sprayed a backhand error in the seventh game to fall 5-2 down, allowing Casper to serve for the victory. Giving his best, Coria fended off three match points on the return in game eight and pulled one break back to prolong the encounter.
Still, Ruud stayed calm and seized the fifth match point with a forehand winner at 5-3 to move over the top and celebrate the third ATP title.