Casper Ruud just can't start winning in 2023 and he recorded yet another loss at the Miami Open.
This season, the young Norwegian is yet to put together a string of two victorious matches. He lost in his second match at Australian Open, in Acapulco, Indian Wells, and now also in Miami. After overcoming Ilya Ivashka and expressing his desire to turn his season around, Ruud took on Botic van de Zandschulp.
The Dutch player also wasn't playing well, losing to Ivashka at Indian Wells. But in the past, he beat the Norwegian twice, although Ruud triumphed the last time the two met.
The first set looked really promising for Ruud. Although he couldn't convert any of the six break points that he had in the fourth game, he used his only chance in the eighth and after confirming the break of serve with a hold, he won the first set 6-3.
However, the second set was a tricky one. Both players held their serves and fans were already getting ready for a tie-break. But in the tenth game, van de Zandschulp surprised his opponent and created to chances to break. Eventually, the Dutch player succeeded, breaking Ruud and wining the second set 6-4 to force a decider.
The third set started well for Ruud. He broke his opponent in the first game and he could add another break in the third. But he didn't use his chances and that kept happening throughout the set.
While the Norwegian couldn't use any of his following four break points, van de Zandschulp used two of his four chances and won the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to take care of the biggest upset of the 2023 Miami Open so far.
Up next, the Dutch player will meet Emil Ruusuvuori from Finland. On the other hand, Ruud will drop a lot of points in the rankings as he reached the final in Miami last year.
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