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Jack Draper came unstuck after a superb performance from the Norwegian - Reuters/Juan Medina
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Jack Draper could not quite clear the final hurdle as he strove to land his first title on clay. It was a significant hurdle, because Casper Ruud is a clay-court animal who was born and bred for this surface.
An exhausting and entertaining three-setter found Draper fading at the last, and eventually going down by a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 margin. The crucial period was the four-game run which allowed Ruud to come back from a 3-5 deficit in the first set to burgle it by a 7-5 margin.
To Ruud’s credit, he surged for the finish line in a superb final game, ripping forehand winners up the line with a freedom that belied the size of the prize: the biggest title of his career.
Ruud has won 125 matches and 12 titles on clay since the start of this decade: the best figures on the tour. His nearest competitors are Stefanos Tsitsipas with 95 wins, and Carlos Alcaraz with nine titles, which underlines what an expert Ruud is on the red dirt.
Draper, by contrast, has played fewer than 30 matches on the surface, so he is still learning how to deal with its characteristic movement patterns. Towards the end of this match, as the lactic acid burned its way into his muscles, he wasn’t able to avoid Ruud’s devastating forehand. As a result, he found himself shuttling left and right like a puppet on a string.
“I think you really deserve this,” Draper told Ruud at the presentation ceremony. “You were braver than me in the key moments. This sport is brutal, but I think this loss is gonna make me better.”
08:30 PM BST
The trophy is Ruud’s
08:29 PM BST
A touch of Spanish
At the end of his winning speech, Casper Ruud turns his hand to a bit of Spanish, which was delivered with a good accent and accurate grammar. He thanked the fans for their support and said he was looking forward to seeing them next year.
08:26 PM BST
The thoughts of the runner-up, Jack Draper
08:22 PM BST
The Madrid Open winner, Casper Ruud
08:19 PM BST
Finally success for Ruud in a final at a Grand Slam or Masters 1000 final
Casper Ruud in Grand Slam & Masters 1000 finals:
Miami 2022
Roland-Garros 2022
US Open 2022
Nitto ATP Finals 2022
Roland-Garros 2023
Monte-Carlo 2024
Madrid 2025pic.twitter.com/lSFIj1uDq1
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 4, 2025
08:17 PM BST
Ruud’s winning moment
08:16 PM BST
Ruud rules in Madrid
08:12 PM BST
Casper Ruud wins the Madrid Open
Ruud is serving for the match and the championship. He starts it well by winning the first two points to go 30-0 up. He can smell victory now. A stunning forehand down the line takes him to 40-0 and three championship points.
The Norwegian sends a forehand down the line, which Draper cannot return, and Ruud wins the Madrid Open 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. We were treated to one hell of a final. Bravo to both players. Commiserations to Draper, congratulations to Ruud.
08:08 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 4-5 Casper Ruud*
Draper simply has to win this game to stay alive in this final and he responds by winning the game without losing a point. Draper is still alive.
08:06 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 6-3, 3-5 Casper Ruud
Ruud was 30-0 up but loses the next two points, including a double fault. Draper hits the ball just out and Ruud has the chance to seal the game at 40-30 up. Draper goes long and Ruud holds a crucial serve. He is just one game away from the title.
07:59 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 3-4 Casper Ruud*
Not the time to be double faulting for Draper. He responds by winning the next two points, including a stunning end to a fantastic rally that Ruud must have thought he was going to win but Draper, on the stretch, wins it with a terrific shot across the court. Draper then falls victim to a second time penalty so loses his first serve. The Briton was not impressed by that decision from the umpire. He then loses the next two points and Ruud has a big break point. Draper saves it and we go to deuce.
Draper now has the advantage after yet another stunning rally. He then closes it out and boy did he need that.
07:54 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 6-3, 2-4 Casper Ruud
Despite Draper winning the first point of the game, Ruud responds by winning the next four points and is now 4-2 up in the set.
07:49 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 2-3 Casper Ruud*
Draper moves to 30-0 up on serve but drops the next two points. The Briton then goes long again and Ruud has break point. Both players have had numerous break points in the last few games but no-one has been able to take it. Can Ruud do so this time? No he cannot as Draper takes us to deuce with a great forehand.
A stunning rally at the net results in Ruud taking the point and having another break point. At the end of that point, Draper did go down but he is back up. This time Ruud can take the break point and it is now advantage Ruud in this deciding set.
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Momentum swinging in Ruud’s favour now? - Oscar del Pozo/Getty Images
07:44 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 6-3, 2-2 Casper Ruud
Ruud is under pressure at 15-30 down on his serve. But the Norwegian brings it level at 30-30 with a brilliant forehand down the line. But a double fault from Ruud gives Draper a break point. Could this be a huge moment in the match?
Draper cannot take it though as he hits the net. Ruud then goes long at deuce and Draper has a second break point in this game. A stunning serve though from Ruud takes us back to deuce.
Draper hits wide and now the advantage goes to Ruud, who takes it to hold serve with a sublime forehand.
07:36 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 2-1 Casper Ruud*
Ruud plays one of the best shots of the day with a stunning forehand down the line that wins him the first point of the game. Ruud then goes 30-15 up but Draper brings it level at 30-30. Draper hits the net, giving Ruud a break point. This could be a hugely pivotal moment in the match. Draper saves himself though and we go to deuce.
Draper wins the next point to move to advantage but then goes long so we return to deuce. Draper gets back to advantage but again cannot convert as he registers a double fault. Not the time to be doing that.
Another advantage for Draper but, after a stunning rally, he wastes the chance once more.
Ruud then pulls out a stunning forehand and, for the first time in this game, he has advantage but Draper saves it. Back to deuce once more!
Draper goes just wide after a lengthy rally and the advantage is Ruud’s. But Draper pulls out an ace when he needed it. Draper finally seals an enthralling game with back-to-back points and takes a 2-1 lead in this deciding set.
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07:25 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 6-3, 1-1 Casper Ruud
Ruud drops just the one shot as he cruises towards the game and we are all square in this deciding set at 1-1. The momentum was with Draper so Ruud really needed that to arrest that momentum.
07:20 PM BST
Third set: Jack Draper 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 Casper Ruud*
Draper has serve at the start of this deciding set. It is tight at 30-30 and Draper manages to find an ace on second serve, which rather perplexed Ruud. Draper looks like he will see out the game but superb play from Ruud on the run sees him take it deuce.
Draper though wins the next two points to hold serve. It was sealed with a sublime backhand across the court.
07:12 PM BST
Jack Draper takes second set 6-3
A stunning backhand from Draper wins him the first point of this game. He hit that so hard! Ruud then suffers back-to-back double faults to give Draper three break and set points. Ruud saves the first and then the second with a cute drop shot. Can he save all three? No he cannot as he goes long and Draper takes the set 6-3.
We have had everything in this match, with so many momentum swings and now it feels like Draper has it.
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07:09 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper 5-7, 5-3 Casper Ruud*
This has been an enthralling match so far, full of momentum swings and quality tennis, the latest example a terrific forehand across the court from Ruud.
The Norwegian then moves to 15-40 up and has two break points of his own now. A great serve from Draper allows him to save the first one and, after a lengthy rally, saves the second to take us to deuce. Two huge saves from Draper there.
The Briton then wins the next two points and holds serve. He is one game away from the second set but he was also 5-3 up in the first.
07:03 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 4-3 Casper Ruud
Could this be the moment Draper needed to get back in this match? He wins the first two points on Ruud’s serve and then the fourth point to set up two break points.
He only needs one with a spectacular forehand and that is a crucial break that brings him right back into this match.
07:00 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper 5-7, 3-3 Casper Ruud*
This feels like a pivotal moment in this match. If Ruud were to get a break, he would nearly be there to winning this final.
Draper though had no intention of being broken in that service game as he races through the game without conceding a point and once again we are all square in this second set.
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Can Jack Draper fight his way back into this match? - Juan Medina/Reuters
06:56 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 2-3 Casper Ruud
Despite a double fault, Ruud sees out the game and holds serve.
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Casper Ruud is in the ascendancy in this final - Isabel Infantes/Reuters
06:52 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper 5-7, 2-2 Casper Ruud*
A neat drop shot from Draper takes the Briton to 30-0 up on serve. Ruud then hits the net on his next return and Draper is racing through his latest service game.
A stunning backhand across the court mid-air though from Ruud keeps the game alive.
But Draper sees it out and we are all square in this second set at 2-2.
06:48 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 1-2 Casper Ruud
This would be a great time for Draper to get a break of serve. Ruud has the chance to seal the game at 40-30 but he hits the net, taking us to deuce.
A terrific ace gives Ruud advantage and he looks like he will see out the game but Draper’s backhand off a Ruud smash beats the Norwegian and we go back to deuce.
Ruud then earns himself another advantage and this time completes the job in this game.
06:42 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper 5-7, 1-1 Casper Ruud*
Draper responds well in his latest service game, racing through the game by winning it to love. He stops the rot and boy did he need that.
06:41 PM BST
Second set: Jack Draper* 5-7, 0-1 Casper Ruud
Ruud serves at the start of this second set. The Norwegian races through the game, sealing it with back-to-back aces and the momentum is all with him. Draper needs a response and now; Ruud has won five straight games.
06:35 PM BST
Casper Ruud takes the first set
The pressure is really on Draper for the first time today and that is not the best of starts to this game as he loses the first point. The tension grows as we move to 30-30 and then Ruud wins the following point to earn himself not only a break point but also set point.
Draper misjudges a return from Ruud and ends up making a mess of it, allowing Ruud to take the first set. Ruud was on the verge of losing that set but comes back to win it. Draper is visibly very annoyed at himself.
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From 5-3 down, Casper Ruud takes the first set!
Jack Draper is not happy
Watch the action with NOW:https://t.co/IJEuV2jgropic.twitter.com/SlBTJ7mHG9
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 4, 2025
06:30 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper* 5-6 Casper Ruud
The momentum was with Draper earlier in the set but it is shifting towards Ruud, who could himself go within one game of the first set if he holds serve.
An unforced error from Draper allows Ruud to go 40-15 up. An excellent serve from the Norwegian wins him the game and he is now 6-5 up, a game away from taking the opening set.
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Casper Ruud turning things around - Isabel Infantes/Reuters
06:27 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper 5-5 Casper Ruud*
Draper moves to 30-15 up but a double fault gives Ruud hope of staying alive in this set.
Draper then makes an unforced error and gives Ruud his first break point of the match. The Norwegian takes it and we go to 5-5, with Ruud on serve in the next game. This first set is well and truly back on.
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06:21 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper* 5-4 Casper Ruud
This is a crucial service game from Ruud to stay in this set and a double fault will not help. That takes us to 30-30. Ruud though wins the next two points and holds serve to stay in the set.
Draper though will serve for the first set.
06:17 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper 5-3 Casper Ruud*
In between games, Draper takes a moment to take a breath and close his eyes. He is in a good position but Ruud has just started to find some form in the last few games so Draper needs to be careful.
Draper moves to 40-15 with a strong forehand and has the chance to move 5-3 up. He cannot take the first chance as his attempted drop shot goes wide. Not sure that was the right choice of shot.
He does not miss the second opportunity as a strong serve sets up the point. Draper is just one game away from the first set.
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Jack Draper looking in good touch so far - Alvaro Medranda/Getty Images
06:12 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper* 4-3 Casper Ruud
Ruud goes 15-0 up but a stunning shot across the court from Draper takes us to 15-15. He did brilliantly to reach that drop shot from Ruud and then it was a fantastic shot to win the point. Ruud though wins the next three points and easily holds serve.
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06:09 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper 4-2 Casper Ruud*
Ruud puts some pressure back on Draper, winning the first two points on the Briton’s serve in this game. Draper then wins the next two points to take it to 30-30, including a sliding volley as he ran to the net. He only just managed to reach that one.
Ruud then goes long, giving Draper the chance to see out the game. A stunning forehand from Draper seals the game for the Briton and he now leads 4-2 in this opening set.
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Good start to the final from Jack Draper - Juan Medina/Reuters
06:03 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper* 3-2 Casper Ruud
Draper is certainly putting pressure on the Ruud serve. He gets it to 30-30 but a loose shot goes wide, presenting Ruud the chance to hold serve and get back on track in this match. He then sees out the game as Draper’s return goes into the net.
06:00 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper 3-1 Casper Ruud*
It is a tight tussle in this latest service game, with the momentum swinging one way then another. A clinical forehand takes Draper to 40-30 and then he seals the game with a terrific backhand cross court.
05:54 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper* 2-1 Casper Ruud (denotes next server)
Draper puts some pressure on the Ruud serve and a double fault from the Norwegian gives the Briton a break point at 30-40 up. Ruud makes it back-to-back double faults and Draper secures a crucial early break. Advantage Draper.
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Early advantage to Draper - Juan Medina/Reuters
05:50 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper 1-1 Casper Ruud* (denotes next server)
Brazilian Ronaldo is in the house, sat alongside Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, who will be cheering on his fellow Norwegian Ruud.
On Draper’s first serve of the match, we have a decent-length rally, which Draper wins. Draper goes long and it is 15-15. The Briton has already gone long on a number of occasions so far today.
Draper though wins the next three points and takes his first game of the match. 1-1 as both men hold serve.
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Ronaldo taking in some tennis! - Thomas Coex/Getty Images
05:46 PM BST
First set: Jack Draper* 0-1 Casper Ruud (denotes next server)
The first point of the match goes Ruud’s way as Draper goes long. Draper then goes long again, giving Ruud a 30-0 lead. The Norwegian moves to 40-0 but Draper keeps his hopes in this game alive with a terrific forehand down the line. Ruud then hits into the net and he will be a little nervous now serving at 40-30 when he was 40-0 up at one stage.
But the Norwegian sees it out and holds serve to take the first game of the match.
05:43 PM BST
Off we go
We are under way, with Ruud serving first in the Madrid sunshine. Who will win the Madrid Open? Draper or Ruud?
05:37 PM BST
Coin toss
It goes Draper’s way and he opts to receive first.
05:35 PM BST
Players welcomed onto the court
Here come the players! First it is Ruud welcomed onto the court followed by Draper. Both players receive a warm reception, in particular Draper.
Time for some warm ups.
05:26 PM BST
Draper gearing up
05:22 PM BST
Colin Fleming on Sky Sports
05:20 PM BST
Back in 2015
05:18 PM BST
Annabel Croft on Sky Sports
05:14 PM BST
Casper Ruud’s route to the final
Last 64- beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-4
Last 32- beat Sebastian Korda 6-3, 6-3
Last 16- beat Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-4
Quarter-finals- beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5
Semi-finals- beat Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-5
05:10 PM BST
Roof open
Sorona Cirstea and Anna Kalinskaya have just defeated Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova in the Women’s Doubles, with the roof closed, but it has now been opened and the sun is shining down on the court in Madrid.
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The Women’s Doubles has concluded - Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
05:07 PM BST
Jack Draper’s route to the final
Last 64- beat Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-4
Last 32- beat Matteo Berrettini (walkover)
Last 16- beat Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-2
Quarter-finals- beat Matteo Arnaldi 6-0, 6-4
Semi-finals- beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
05:00 PM BST
Who will be victorious in Madrid?
Jack Draper is aiming to win his second ATP title of the year as he takes on Norway’s Casper Ruud in the Madrid Open final. Draper, who is now into the world’s top five ahead of Novak Djokovic, beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-finals to reach his third ATP final of the year. This is the first time that he has reached the final of a clay-court event and is the first Englishman to reach the final of this event and the second Briton after Sir Andy Murray, who won this tournament twice. Back in March, Draper was triumphant at Indian Wells and he has yet to drop a set in Madrid. Speaking after his semi-final victory over Musetti, Draper acknowledged the challenge facing him in the final against a player like Ruud but is feeling confident.
“Casper is a two-time Roland Garros finalist and very accustomed to the clay,” Draper said. “He is always tough to beat so it will be a challenge for me but I am ready for it. I feel confident to give it my all and physically good. I came through some five-setters at the Australian Open earlier in the year when not at my best and that has stayed in my memory.”
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Can Jack Draper seal victory in Madrid? - Julian Finney/Getty Images
Meanwhile Ruud booked his place in the final after beating Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 7-5. The world number 15 struggled with a rib injury throughout his semi-final but came through to reach his 18th final on clay. Speaking after beating Cerundolo, Ruud, who has won 11 titles on clay, admitted he was unsure he would finish the match.
“I was not sure I was going to be able to finish the match, honestly. I felt something in my rib during the warm-up, just towards the end before going out [on court],” Ruud said. “I felt it in nearly every shot, especially the serve. Luckily, I got some quick treatment on it. There is not too much you can do, you only have three minutes [with the physio]. So I will go and check it out more now.”
This is the first meeting between these two professionally so who will come out on top and win the Madrid Open? The final is set to get under way at 5.30pm BST.
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