Ruud’s Resilience: Thrilling Victory Over Tsitsipas in Madrid R4
Norwegian star set to clash with Cerundolo or Blockx in quarter-finals
April 28, 2026
Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
Casper Ruud triumphs against Stefanos Tsitsipas, reaching the Madrid quarter-finals for the third consecutive year.
By ATP Team
Defending champion Casper Ruud showcased his fighting spirit in an exhilarating encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday, saving two match points to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 7-6(3).
“I was on the edge of being eliminated,” Ruud expressed after his nail-biting fourth-round win. “I’m incredibly happy and proud of my determination to turn it around.”
With his back against the wall while serving at 3-5 in the final set, Ruud displayed remarkable poise. He clinched the first match point with a stunning forehand winner and eliminated the second when Tsitsipas mishit a backhand return.
“The initial sets were tightly contested,” Ruud reflected. “In the third, I felt like I got off to a much stronger start.”
Sealing the two-hour and 57-minute battle in the final-set tiebreak, Ruud erupted with joy. This victory improves his record to 4-2 against Tsitsipas in their Lexus ATP Head2Head matchups.
Next up for the 27-year-old is a showdown against either Francisco Cerundolo or Alexander Blockx.
