CASPER RUUD CAPTURES FIRST MASTERS 100O TITLE IN MADRID

The Norwegian star overcomes Jack Draper in straight sets to win the biggest title of his career. 

Casper Ruud achieved a significant milestone in his tennis career by winning the 2025 Madrid Open, marking his first ATP Masters 1000 title. In a closely contested final, Ruud overcame Britain’s Jack Draper with a scoreline of 7–5, 3–6, 6–4, showcasing resilience and a strong will to win on the clay courts of Madrid.

"This victory is particularly noteworthy as it ends Ruud’s streak of losses in major finals, including previous defeats in Miami 2022, Monte Carlo 2024, and three Grand Slam finals. The win not only adds a prestigious title to his resume but also propels him back into the ATP Top 10, now ranked World No. 7.

Jack Draper, despite the loss, has had a remarkable run in 2025. His performance in Madrid, including victories over top players, has elevated him to World No. 5, making him the fourth British man to reach the ATP Top 5. At 23 years and 121 days old, Draper also became the youngest British man in the Open Era to reach ATP finals on clay, grass, and hard courts.

To secure this win, Casper Ruud navigated a challenging draw. He commenced his campaign with a straight-sets victory over Alexander Shevchenko in the second round. In the third round, Ruud faced and defeated Sebastian Korda. The fourth round saw him overcome Taylor Fritz, followed by a quarterfinal win against Daniil Medvedev. In the semifinals, Ruud bested Francisco Cerundolo before clinching the title with a hard-fought victory over Jack Draper in the final.

 Inside the Baseline…

Ruud’s Madrid title feels like a long time coming and well-earned. Often overshadowed by flashier opponents, Casper Ruud has quietly built one of the most consistent clay-court resumes on tour. This win not only silences questions about his ability to win the big ones, but it firmly places him among the favorites for Roland Garros. His game may not scream highlight-reel, but it now screams champion.

 - Tennishead.net

ELINA SVITOLINA AND HUSBAND GAEL MONFILS FACE ANTI-DOPPING WAKE-UP CALL IN MADRID HOURS AFTER HER ROUEN TRIUMPH

Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils - Source: Getty

Hours after clinching her 18th singles title at the Open de Rouen, Elina Svitolina, along with her husband, Gael Monfils, underwent anti-doping tests. The Frenchman was present in his home nation to watch his wife triumph.

On Sunday, April 20, Svitolina defeated Olga Danilovic in a hard-fought final in Rouen 6-4, 7-6(8). The Ukrainian was watched on by her 38-year-old husband, Monfils, from the stands as she earned her 18th title.

"I feel very good, it was a good tournament for me," Svitolina said after her victory (via WTA Tour). "Not an easy final, but very happy I could win all my matches in two sets and play good matches. I’m happy with the start of the season."

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina at the 2023 US Open - Source: Getty

Soon after, the couple traveled to Spain in a private jet as both of them will be playing at the Madrid Open next. However, early in the morning in Madrid, the couple had to undergo anti-doping tests. Revealing the news through an image on her Instagram Story, the Ukrainian captioned it:

""Love" the early mornings when we are in sync with anti-doping controls"

 Svitolina will receive a bye in her first round in Madrid as she is seeded, while World No. 42 Monfils will take on a qualifier.

Soon after World No. 17 Elina Svitolina bagged her 18th title in Rouen, she and husband Gael Monfils traveled to Madrid in a private jet. Upon reaching their destination, the Ukrainian booked an Uber XL.

"We just landed in Madrid, and my wife tells me she ordered an Uber XL. Well… have a look. That’s the Uber XL [he turns the camera to the vehicle]... Now she wins a tournament — and immediately starts booking Uber XLs!" Monfils said (translated from French).

At the Madrid Open, Svitolina is seeded 17th and has received a bye in the first round. She will face the winner of Jaqueline Cristian vs. Sonay Kartal in the second round.

Meanwhile, Monfils is preparing to face a qualifier in the first round of the Masters 1000 event. The winner of his match will take on the seventh seed, Andrey Rublev, in the second round.

- Aliasgar Ayaz

SHANGHAI HIGHLIGHTS | DAY 8

 

JANNIK SINNER PASSES ANDRE AGASSI FOR FIFTH-BEST MASTERS 1000 CAREER WINNING PERCENTAGE

The Italian now only trails Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz in a legendary Top 5.

PERCENTAGES (since 1990):

82.02%: Novak Djokovic [406-89] (playing 4th Rd match tonight)

82.00%: Rafael Nadal [410-90]

77.91%: Roger Federer [381-108]

76.54%: Carlos Alcaraz [62-19]

74.26%: Jannik Sinner [75-26]

Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have the three most career Masters 1000 titles with 40, 36 and 28, respectively. Agassi's next with 17.

Alcaraz has five career Masters 1000 titles, at Miami and Madrid in 2022, Indian Wells and Madrid in 2023 and Indian Wells this year.

Sinner has three career Masters 1000 titles, his first coming in Canada last year and two more this year at Miami and Cincinnati.

It was all about break points on Wednesday, as Sinner converted his only break point of the day—he broke for 5-4 in the first set, then served the set out—while Shelton went 0/7 on break points.

After 12 straight holds in the second set the two went to a tie-break, where, after Shelton won the first point, Sinner reeled off the last seven points in a row to close the match out in straight sets.

Sinner finished the match with twice as many winners as unforced errors, 18 to 9, and Shelton had strong numbers too, with 22 to 17.

Since Shelton won their first career meeting in Shanghai a year ago, Sinner has gone 4-0 against the American and 9-0 in sets, with straight-set wins in Vienna last year and at Indian Wells, Wimbledon and now Shanghai so far this season.

Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Sinner in the quarterfinals will be the winner of the match between No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev and No. 10 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, which finished later in the day.

,- John Berkok