'Not what I was really hoping for' - Casper Ruud suffers shock loss in dent to ATP Finals qualifying chances
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Updated 18/10/2023 at 15:17 GMT
Casper Ruud's hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals took a hit as he was beaten in the second round of the Japan Open by Marcos Giron. Second seed Ruud lost 6-3 6-4 to the world No. 79 and is in 10th place in the Race to Turin standings, 295 points behind Holger Rune in the final qualifying spot. Giron will next play Felix Auger-Aliassime, while Hubert Hurkacz lost and Ben Shelton won.
Highlights: Ruud dumped out of Japan Open by Giron
Casper Ruud said his Asian swing was “not what I was really hoping for” after seeing his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals dented with a second-round loss to qualifier Marcos Giron at the Japan Open.
Since going out in the second round of the US Open, Ruud has lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the China Open and exited in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters.
He was the second seed at the Japan Open but lost 6-3 6-4 to world No. 79 Giron.
Ruud is currently 10th in the Race to Turin standings, 295 points behind Holger Rune in the final qualifying spot.
Reflecting on his loss in Tokyo, where he was beaten in the first round in 2022, Ruud said: "I think it went better than last year so what can you say, I played better than last year, for sure.
"Maybe not what I was really hoping for and kind of what I needed but there's still a couple of weeks to go and I'll keep my head high and try to fight in the last couple of weeks of the year."
Ruud said he was "never able to get into a rhythm" against the USA's Giron.
"I tried to play the same level as I did yesterday - maybe I wasn't able to but it's OK, it's not always easy to shift from one day to the other with different opponents," said Ruud.
"I wasn't able to be ready enough for his game and counter his game."
Giron will next face Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Sebastian Ofner to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since March.
Auger-Aliassime had won just twice in his past 11 matches before the Japan Open, but looked good in beating Ofner in one hour and 35 minutes.
"I need results like this," said Auger-Aliassime.
"I believe in my game and I believe in myself that I have what it takes to win at this level. I have done it before but it is about doing it and having a lot of belief and a positive mind.
“I am happy that my level is translating to the match court after a couple of months."
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Elsewhere, Zhang Zhizhen upset Shanghai Masters champion Hubert Hurkacz.
Hurkacz beat Zhang on his way to winning the title in Shanghai last week, but this time Zhang came out on top with a 3-6 6-4 7-6(4) win.
The result leaves Hurkacz 335 points behind Rune in the Race to Turin standings.
Ben Shelton came from behind to beat Jordan Thompson 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3.
He will face fellow American Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals after he won 6-4 6-2 against Mackenzie McDonald.
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