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Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud admitted he was shaking all over his body after winning a third consecutive ATP title. Ruud, who is enjoying a career-high ranking of No. 14 in the world, beat Spaniard Pedro Martinez Portero 6-1 4-6 6-3 in the Kitzbuhel final.
The 22-year-old Norwegian won Bastad two weeks ago, while last week he made it all the way in Gstaad. For the first time since 2011, a player managed to win three consecutive titles in three consecutive weeks. The last player to do was former world No.
1 Andy Murray in 2011. “I am shaking all over my body. It feels amazing,” Ruud said, per the ATP website. “I was very nervous at the end, I knew what I was playing for. Three in a row is something special. What a day to play the final, rain on and off all day.
“I’m just very excited and happy that these three weeks are over, and that I won all of them”.
Ruud underlined it wasn't easy against Martinez
The players were tied at one game apiece after the opening two games but then Ruud claimed back-to-back breaks to comfortably win the opener.
The match was then suspended due to rain, and after players returned to the court, they only player three games before the match was again suspended. In the 10th game of the second set, Martinez earned his first break of the match to force a decider.
Martinez served out the opening game of the match before dropping serve in back-to-back games and losing five games in a row. Martinez managed to get one break back but Ruud earned his third break of the set in the ninth game to seal the win.
"It was tough... we know that the weather was a bit shaky so I was prepared [for the delay]," Ruud said. "It was a bit long there in the end. We came back, only played three games, and then we had to stop again. It was a bit annoying, but we had to keep the focus and try your best. It's the same for the opponent."