AFP, Geneva :
Casper Ruud downed Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Tomas Machac on Saturday to win a third Geneva title and head into the French Open with a trophy in his racquet bag.
Norwegian Ruud, the world number seven, beat 44th-ranked Czech Machac 7-5, 6- 3 in an hour and 47 minutes.
Second seed Ruud is at home on the Parc des Eaux-Vives clay, having won the Geneva title in 2021 and 2022.
Ruud was the runner-up in the last two French Opens, and a third Geneva title gives the 25-year-old a timely boost as he makes the journey to Paris. Nobody has won more matches on the ATP tour this year than Ruud.
“I’m happy after winning another title. It’s been quite a difficult week. There are never any easy matches. I was on the brink of losing a couple of times during the tournament,” Ruud told reporters afterwards.
“So the the margins were on my side and hopefully they can continue to be for the next two weeks.
“The courts, the conditions suit my game quite well and I’m always motivated when I come here, and looking forward for this tournament.
“And of course, with Paris in the back of my mind, I try to take this tournament very seriously.
“Aesthetically it’s a beautiful city: the lake, the mountains. Somehow it reminds me a bit of Norway,” he said of Geneva.
