Ruud Underdog Despite Impressive Form in US Open Clash with Fritz

Casper Ruud, the Norwegian tennis star, will face off against American Taylor Fritz in a highly anticipated fourth-round clash at the US Open on Sunday. Despite being a three-time Grand Slam runner-up and ranked four spots higher than Fritz in the ATP rankings, Ruud is surprisingly the underdog in this matchup.

Fritz has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, showcasing his exceptional hard-court skills. His career winning percentage on hard courts stands at 60.1%, rising to 64.9% over the past year. However, Ruud has also demonstrated significant improvement on this surface, boasting a 67.4% winning percentage over the last 52 weeks.

Ruud's success on hard courts is attributed to his improved serve and backhand, as well as his aggressive playing style. He has also proven to be a consistent performer at the US Open, reaching the final in 2021. Fritz, on the other hand, has a more modest record at this Slam, with a quarterfinal appearance as his best result.

Despite Fritz's home-court advantage, Ruud's experience and recent form make him a formidable opponent. He has a 2-0 head-to-head record against Fritz, including a victory on indoor hard courts earlier this year.

Ruud's ability to hit deep topspin forehands and pounce on short balls gives him an edge over Fritz. While Fritz possesses more firepower, Ruud's superior court coverage and tactical intelligence make him a more complete player.

While Ruud's recent form has been inconsistent, he has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the tournament. His victories over Gael Monfils and Juncheng Shang demonstrated his ability to raise his level when it matters most.

Overall, the oddsmakers' favoritism towards Fritz may be premature. Ruud's proven track record, recent improvement on hard courts, and head-to-head advantage make him a strong contender in this matchup.

Tags: #USOpen, #CasperRuud, #TaylorFritz, #Tennis, #HardCourt