Casper Ruud has now reached all four 'big' clay finals with Rome run, secures Top 16 seed at Roland Garros

ROME—When Casper Ruud arrived to the Foro Italico, the Norwegian found himself ranked outside of the Top 20 for the first time in five years.

That drop won’t last beyond the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, as a resurgent Ruud has made his way to championship Sunday. In doing so, the No. 23 seed has reached the final at every ‘big’ clay-court event—Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Madrid and now Rome. He also has the ATP 500 title in Barcelona on his resume.

Ruud achieved the feat by ending Luciano Darderi’s dream run with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory on a start-and-stop Friday. Play was suspended for a significant period with Ruud leading 4-1 in the first set, and the narrative hardly changed when the players returned to Stadio Centrale del Tennis.

All in all, Ruud broke the home favorite six times and hit three times as many forehand winners (12 to 4).

“It's sort of easier to hit more full swings when you're in Rome than in Madrid because the ball doesn't fly as much. You feel like it goes down and in,” Ruud explained in his press conference. “It's a good feeling obviously. I think return and baseline game is even better than what it was in Madrid.”

The timing of the 27-year-old’s run could not be better. The 25th-ranked Ruud is projected to climb back up to No. 17, right behind Darderi. He can rise two more places by tasting victory Sunday, but either way, he’s ensured himself a Top 16 seed at Roland Garros with the previous withdrawals of No. 2-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and No. 10-ranked Lorenzo Musetti.

For Ruud, his performance against Jiri Lehecka was the catalyst for turning a corner on the confidence meter and beginning an upward momentum swing.

“From there I've been trying to focus on the things that went well there and keep it going, improve even more if I can. Every day I felt a bit better and better,” he said. “The couple of sets against Khachanov and today are some of the best I felt on court in a long time. So that's a good feeling.”

Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev clash in the evening session. The world No. 1 is two wins away from completing a Career Golden Masters, while Medvedev is seeking his second title here following a 2023 triumph.

In last year’s quarterfinals, Sinner minimized Ruud to posting a single game on the scoreboard. The Italian has won all eight sets the two have contested on tour as well.

“At the end of the day he's human. I have to try to think that way as much as I can,” Ruud said about the possible rematch. “Last year I was kind of blown out of the court by him. We will both remember it, of course. I hope that's not the case.”