Casper Ruud extended his unbeaten record on clay this year by defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the Madrid Open semi-finals. The vistory was the Norwegian’s first in four attempts against the Russian and continued his excellent form on clay this year.
Ruud exerted early pressure on Medvedev’s serve, breaking for a 4-2 lead in the opening set, and held the advantage through to the end. And while he only converted two of his eight break-point chances over the match, Medvedev — who has struggled on the red dirt — didn’t manufacture one break point of his own against Ruud’s serve. The world No 10 committed 33 unforced errors and struck four double faults in a limp performance.
The world No 15 will take on Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the semi-finals, the latter who saw off Jakub Mensik 3-6, 7-6, 6-2.
In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff overwhelmed the defending champion, Iga Swiatek, 6-1, 6-1, in a resounding performance in a semifinal. Gauff, 21, broke the three-time Slam champion number two seed from Poland three times in the first set and twice in the second, finishing off the victory after 66 minutes.
Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, did not have a single break point at any point and was completely overwhelmed by Gauff, who had seven aces and was in charge of the match from start to finish. The loss was Swiatek’s first to Gauff on clay and it halted her quest for a second Madrid crown.
“I felt great out there today,” Gauff said. “Clay is one of my better surfaces as well and I felt I could beat her here.”
Gauff, who had beaten Swiatek previously on hard courts, advances to the final of the Madrid Open for the first time.
