Casper Ruud has taken up in 2023 where he left off in 2022, beating Brazil's Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-2 in the first men's singles match of the New Year to boost Norway at the United Cup mixed teams championship in Brisbane. (More Tennis News)
Ruud had a successful 2022, rising as high as No. 2 in world rankings before ending the year at No. 3 after reaching the championship mat💎ch at the ATP finals. His start to last season in Australia was less memorable: he suffered an ankle injury in training and was forced out of the Australian Open a day before his first round match.
On Sunday, Ruud had only a few anxious moments before taking out a must-win match for Norway against Brazil. Norway was 2-0 down when he took the court against Montiero at Brisbane's Pat Rafter Arena; he left he court victorious 72 minutes later, improving his record agܫainst Montiero to 3-0.
After💮 a comfortable win the in the first set, Ruud went 2-0 down in the second before sweeping six straight games to clinch his win.
“It was a must-win so I was maybe feeling the presꦗsure a little bit,” Ruud said. “But I was able to come out with a good start and starting the New Year in tennis down in Australia feels great.
“I always feel very motivated coming down here playing in Australia. Last year was a bit unfortunate. I was not able to play in the Australian Open. I rolled my ankle the day before my first round so I'm very eager to hopefully have a good s🀅tart of the s♎eason down here and this is a perfect way for me to start another year on tour.”
Ruud's win only delayed Norway's eventual defeat in Group E. Laura Pigossi beat Ulrikkꦅe Eikeri 6-3, 6-4 later Sunday to give💞 Brazil a winning 3-1 lead.
Form🧸꧙er Wimbledon champion and Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova beat Laura Siegemund 6-4, 6-2 to give the Czech Republic an unassailable 3-0 lead over Germany in a Group C match in Sydney.
The m🍎atch was closer than the scoreline suggests. Siegemund generated 11 break points — Kvitova saved nine — and Kvitova overcame 10 double faults to clinch the tie.
Rafael Nadal, who lost his last singles match of 2022 on Saturday to Cameron Norrie will team with✅ Paula Badosa in mixed doubles later Sunday for Spain against Britain.
Two singles matches — one men's and one women's — are played ove🌃r each of two days, with a mixed doubles to conclude the fiv🐎e-match encounter on the second day.
The inaugural United Cup has teams from 18 countries competing in Bri✱sbane, Perth and Sydney through to Jan. 4. The three city champions and the next-best performing country from the group stage will meet at Ken Rosewall Arena from Jan. 6 to 8 to determine the overall winner.
