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Match Details
Fixture: (1) Casper Ruud vs (6) Miomir Kecmanovic
Tournament: Estoril Open 2023
Date: Sunday, April 9
Round: Final
Venue: Clube de Tenis do Estoril, Estoril, Portugal
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Outdoor clay
Prize money: €562,815
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel/UK - Amazon Prime Video
Casper Ruud vs Miomir Kecmanovic preview
Top seed Casper Ruud takes on sixth seed Miomir Kecmanovic in the Estoril Open final on Sunday.
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The fifth-ranked Ruud survived a stern test against Frenchman Quentin Halys, requiring a third-set tie-break to reach his first final of the season. In a high-quality contest, a break of serve was enough to decide the first two sets.
With no breaks in the decider, a tie-break ensued, where Ruud came good to bring up his eighth win in 14 matches this year and reach his 16th singles final. It marks the first time the 24-year-old Norwegian won more than two matches at a tournament this year, having not won more than one at his six previous stops.
Meanwhile, World No. 40 Kecmanovic has been sublime this week, bringing up his fourth consecutive straight-sets win to improve to 12-8 on the season. The 23-year-old Serb downed former Roland Garros semifinalist Marco Cecchinato for the loss of just four games to reach his second final of the season.
Kecmanovic reached the Delray Beach final (lost to Taylor Fritz) and the Adelaide 2 quarterfinals. He had entered Estoril Open on a run of four defeats in five matches but is now a win away from his second singles title and first in three years (2020 Kitzbuhel).
Casper Ruud vs Miomir Kecmanovic head-to-head
Ruud has lost both previous meetings with Kecmanovic. However, their last meeting was more than three years ago at the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals, which the Serb won in three sets. Their first meeting was in Zhuhai that year in the Round of 32.
Casper Ruud vs Miomir Kecmanovic odds
(All odds as per BETMGM)
Casper Ruud vs Miomir Kecmanovic prediction
Both Ruud and Kecmanovic like to dominate opponents from the back of the court. However, the Norwegian is the more accomplished player, especially on clay, where he reached the Roland Garros final last year.
Both Ruud and Kecmanovic are good movers, attributes that tend to pay rich dividends on clay. While the former World No. 2 has had great success on hardcourts in the last 12 months, he usually plays his best tennis on clay.
On this surface, he gets time to construct points and unleash his powerful groundstrokes off either flank to discomfit his opponent.
Kecmanovic is no slouch on clay, winning his lone singles title on the surface. He has had Ruud's number, but the Norwegian has improved massively since their last meeting. Despite his indifferent start to the year, Ruud should prevail.
Pick: Ruud in three sets
