Match Report
Ruud saves 2 MPs to outlast Tsitsipas in Madrid R4 thriller
Norwegian to face Cerundolo or Blockx in the quarter-finals
April 28, 2026
AFP/Getty Images
Casper Ruud beats Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the Madrid quarter-finals for the third time.
By ATP Staff
Defending champion Casper Ruud continued his Mutua Madrid Open title defence in thrilling fashion on Tuesday when he saved two match points to edge Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(4), 6-7(2), 7-6(3).
“I was on the brink of being on the way home already,” Ruud said following his fourth-round victory. “Just really happy and proud of the way I fought back.”
Facing two match points on serve at 3-5 in the decider, Ruud maintained his composure. He saved the first with a clean forehand winner, then wiped out the second when Tsitsipas misfired a backhand return.
“The first two sets were really close,” he said. “In the third set, I felt like I had a better beginning.”
Eventually sealing the two-hour, 57-minute win in the final-set tie-break, Ruud let out a joyous roar. With the triumph, the Norwegian improved to 4-2 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
The 27-year-old will next face Francisco Cerundolo or Alexander Blockx.
