Russia’s world No. 4 Andrey Rublev added the Swedish Open title to the Monte-Carlo Masters he won earlier in the season after defeating Casper Ruud in straight sets in Bastad. Rublev bagelled the Norwegian in the second set. Meanwhile in Gstaad, Argentina’s Pedro Cachin lifted himself into the world top 50 for the first time after he beat Albert Ramos Vinolas to secure the Swiss Open trophy.
Andrey Rublev won his second ATP Tour title of 2023, beating Casper Ruud 7-6(3) 6-0 at the Nordea Open final, while Pedro Cachin won the Swiss Open.
The second seed’s power helped him against his Norwegian opponent, requiring just over an hour and a half for victory.
The 25-year-old Russian enjoyed success on his serve as he won 80% of his first-serve points.
The win is Rublev’s 18th victory on clay so far in 2023, and he remains unbeaten on the surface against Ruud.
The victory lifts him up to No. 4 in the men’s world rankings as he looks ahead to the North American hard-court swing.
Earlier in the year, Rublev won the ATP Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo.
Rublev on the run 🏃♂️@AndreyRublev97 @NordeaOpen pic.twitter.com/eyq8s8e0Jc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 23, 2023
At the Swiss Open in Gstaad, Pedro Cachin claimed his first career title on the ATP Tour when he beat Albert Ramos Vinolas 3-6 6-0 7-5.
The match lasted almost two and a half hours as the 28-year-old Argentine kept his experienced opponent behind the baseline with his power, whilst also regularly using his drop shot. The 35-year-old Spaniard Ramos Vinolas needed to take a medical timeout in the second set to receive treatment for blisters.
“In the beginning of the match I was a little nervous and made a few mistakes. It was the first time I had played against a lefty in the tournament but I stayed there,” Cachin said after his win.
“I tried to be positive, more aggressive and go to the net. In a final it is difficult to play like this the whole match. I am very, very happy.”
The victory takes Cachin to No. 49 in the world, beating his previous high of No. 54, achieved last November. His best ATP Tour finish before Sunday was the Cordoba Open quarter-finals in 2019.
There was a surprise winner in Budapest, where 19-year-old lucky loser Maria Timofeeva defeated Kateryna Baindl to win the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Timofeeva, ranked No. 246 in the world, was making the first WTA main-draw appearance of her career and stunned the field with a surge to the final.
She then completed the dream run with a 6-3 3-6 6-0 win over world No. 100 Baindl.
“This is all very new to me, and it feels like a dream, because normally I shouldn’t be here, but here I am,” Timofeeva said. “I’m just so happy and thankful.”
Lucky Loser ➡️ Maiden Title
— wta (@WTA) July 23, 2023
Timofeeva makes her WTA main draw debut and outlasts Baindl to win the @BudapestWta title! 🏆 #HUNGP23 pic.twitter.com/jEl8WP5dmY
Adrian Mannarino claimed the Newport crown with a 6-2 6-4 final win over Alex Michelsen for his first title of the season.
It was the third tour-level title of the 35-year-old Frenchman’s career and came against a player almost half his age, 18-year-old American prospect Michelsen.
