Casper Ruud continues to dominate on the clay courts of Rome, advancing confidently to the quarter-finals of the 2026 Rome Open, leaving Lorenzo Musetti behind with a resounding victory of 6-4, 6-1. The Norwegian is regaining his rhythm and increasingly establishing himself as one of the big names of the season, but the win was marked by concern for the physical condition of the young Italian, who was not at 100% and saw his opponent display sporting solidarity.
Ruud thus secured his fifth appearance in the quarter-finals in the Italian capital, where he has previously shone with semi-finals in 2020, 2022, and 2023. After dropping out of the top 20 due to an early exit in Madrid, the Nordic player is proving that the Foro Italico is fertile ground for his rehabilitation. Having not lost a set so far, Ruud had already overcome Zachary Svajda and the emerging Jiri Lehecka, but Musetti promised to be the toughest test – however, he fell well short of that.
Ruud’s dominance was clear from the first set, when he broke Musetti’s serve at a crucial moment to establish a solid lead. A double break consolidated the Norwegian’s control, as he also watched his opponent call for medical assistance, highlighting the physical issues that have plagued the Italian throughout the season. Musetti, who had already struggled against Francisco Cerundolo due to pain, tried to fight back but was unable to prevent the victory of the three-time Grand Slam semifinalist.
After the match, Ruud did not hide his satisfaction at reaching the quarter-finals, but he made a point of expressing empathy for his opponent: “I was really happy with the win. Lore [Lorenzo Musetti] might not have been at 100%. I watched his match against Cerundolo and he was limping a bit. It’s not easy to see that, but this is the brutality of tennis. You try to do your best against the opponent, but without losing focus on yourself. I had a somewhat unstable first set, but I managed to break early and served to close it out.”
Demonstrating class and sportsmanship, Casper wished a speedy recovery to the Italian: “I’m happy to advance, but I hope Lore recovers quickly and returns to his best.”
In the adverse conditions of the Foro Italico, Ruud highlighted the difficulties imposed by the wind and the constant changes in light: “It was windy, and that makes everything more complicated on clay. Against the wind, you have to try to shorten the points because if you prolong them, it becomes more difficult. I served well in those moments to prevent Lorenzo from getting into the point. When the wind was in my favor, I tried to play with more weight and take advantage. The sun and shade were also alternating, making everything more challenging, but I’m very satisfied with my performance.”
Ruud’s next challenge will be against Russian Karen Khachanov, who eliminated young Dino Prizmic in straight sets. Khachanov thus reaches his first quarter-final in Rome and the first since the Masters final in Canada in 2025, where he defeated Ruud the last time they faced each other on the ATP circuit. The two also crossed paths in Rome in 2020, in an epic duel decided in three sets that allowed Ruud to reach his first semi-final in a Masters 1000.
The battle promises to be intense and decisive, in a Rome Open that continues to heat up the race for glory on clay. Casper Ruud, with his solid performance and sportsmanship, is showing that he is ready to fight until the end.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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