ATP Madrid Final: Casper Ruud vs Jack Draper – Match Preview
🧠 Form & Context
Jack Draper
- 🧱 Breakthrough run: Into his second Masters 1000 final of 2025 (after winning Indian Wells), and hasn't dropped a set all tournament.
- 💪 Big wins: Defeated Berrettini, Paul, Musetti, and Arnaldi—without facing a single breakpoint vs Musetti.
- 🚀 Elite-level rise: Has now won 25 of his last 29 matches and enters on a 6-match winning streak vs top-20 opponents.
- 📈 Historic climb: Will rise to a new career-high ranking of No. 5 next week, surpassing Novak Djokovic.
- 🧠 Fitness finally holding: After setbacks earlier in the year, Draper is now able to perform consistently, unlocking his potential.
- 🏆 Title milestone ahead: This is his first-ever clay final, having never previously gone past a QF on the surface.
Casper Ruud
- 🩺 Health scare avoided: Appeared physically troubled in the SF vs Cerúndolo (chest pain) but recovered to win in straight sets.
- 🧱 Top-10 return: After early exits in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, Ruud has reclaimed a spot in the top 10 by reaching the final.
- 🎯 Consistency on clay: This is his 16th clay-court final since 2020, tying Dominic Thiem for most among players born in the 1990s.
- 🧨 Big-match woes: 0–5 in high-profile finals (Grand Slam and Masters 1000), often falling to elite names like Djokovic, Nadal, and Tsitsipas.
- ❗ Fragile serve stats: Has faced 30 break points this week (saved 15/18 in SF)—a stat that could be punished by Draper’s elite return game.
- 🔍 Title hunt: Still searching for a signature clay-court title—this could be his most winnable final to date.
