Dominic Stricker defeated Casper Ruud 4‑6, 7‑5, 6‑3 in a match played on indoor hardcourt. The 24‑year‑old Swiss player, who is ranked 253rd in the ATP standings, won the opening set before Ruud fought back in the second. Stricker then secured the third set to claim the victory. Ruud had originally been drawn to face American qualifier Ben Shelton (world No. 4) in the first round, but the withdrawal of Alexander Bublik allowed Ruud to be seeded and avoid the early matchup. Despite a difficult season that included injuries at the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, Ruud has shown strong form in recent tournaments. In Shanghai, he defeated higher‑ranked opponents Learner Tien and Felix Auger‑Aliassime, and led a set against Rafael Jodar before falling in the quarterfinals. This match marks the third encounter between the two players, all of which have taken place in Switzerland. With this win, Ruud now leads their head‑to‑head record 2‑1.
Article source: Verdens Gang | Image credit: Verdens Gang