Ruud out in Basel as RBA cements injury comeback

Second seed Casper Ruud suffered his third career loss from four matches played at the Swiss Indoors as the Norwegian lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to resurgent Robert Bautista Agut.

The Spaniard, playing on a special exempt entry as he comes back from last year’s horse-riding accident which broke his foot, earned the second round in just over two hours.

Victory marked the first defeat of a top 10 player for RBA since defeating Daniil Medvedev 16 months ago in Halle.

The Iberian ranked 45th, followed up on his title at the weekend in Antwerp as he won his sixth match in a row.

Ruud claimed his only Basel victory in last year’s first round as he beat Alexander Bublik.

RBA next lines up against Canadian wild card Denis Shapovalov.

“I’m enjoying time on court again,’ the winner said. “It’s been a tough yer with a lot of pressure, playing qualifying and Challengers.

“But now with a little bit of calm I can play better,” said the player whose ranking dropped to 120th after his accident.

“I’ve spent all of my life playing tennis and I didn’t want it to end this way,” added the 36-year-old. “I still have lots of tennis inside me.”

Ruud, provisional seventh in the race to the eight-man ATP Finals next month in Turin, now has a huge task ahead at next week’s Paris Masters if he is to qualify into the year-end field.

Main photo:- Roberto Bautista Agut celebrates with his son