Ruud lights a fire to defeat Medvedev in Madrid

Casper Ruud fired up his tennis for a career-first win over Daniil Medvedev on Thursday with the Norwegian rediscovering lost desire in a 6-3, 7-5 win into the Madrid Masters semi-finals.

Ruud, ranked 15th after once standing second in the world, earned his first victory against Medvedev after losing all three previous meetings without winning even a set.

But that all changed on the Manolo Santana stadium clay as the Scandinavian broke through in just over 90 minutes.

“I arrived after a tough Barcelona loss (quarters against Holger Rune),” two-time Roland Garros finalist Ruud said. “I worked with myself and my mental attitude in approaching matches.

“I came here as a better version of myself and played with good intensity.

“I’d like to keep it that way. There’s been some fire missing in my game and I’m happy to bring it in Madrid.”

Ruud broke once per set to tame Medvedev, who lost serve in the 11th game of the second set when a drop shot failed and Ruud took advantage a point later with a winner to the corner.

The Norwegian sere out victory moments later, with Medvedev netting a forehand to end it.

Ruud moved into his ninth semi-final at the Masters 1000 level and his second in Madrid. He finished with 17 winners while his opponent struck 34 unforced errors.

“He’s beaten me on grass, outdoor and indoor hardcourt – I didn;t want that to happen on clay,” Ruud said after the pair’s first meeting in four years.

“Please, not 4-0.

“He can produce power on clay, especially from his forehand. But he didn’t bring what I had expected to the match. I still knew I had to play well to beat him.

“Sometimes one break per set is enough here in Madrid.”