Ruud wins maiden UTS title, lifts trophy at Bastide Médical UTS Nîmes

Casper “The Ice Man” Ruud finally won his first UTS title in his sixth appearance in the format – much to the delight of a record crowd of 12,500 at Bastide Médical UTS Nîmes in the Arena de Nimes.

He defeated Tomas “Air Machete” Machac, 12-13, 16-14, 15-14, 15-11, to end the Czech’s unbeaten UTS record.

Ruud made a quick start to the first quarter, but Machac proved himself simply too good, with exceptional ball-striking throughout that left The Ice Man searching for solutions.

And he found them in the second quarter, finding his feet on his favoured clay, and despite Machac’s tenacity, finally seizing quarter point.

But it was incredibly close, with even the noisy Nimes crowd hushing as they watched the drama unfold – and though Machac confidently said after the third quarter he was aiming to force sudden death, Ruud wrapped up his first UTS title, taking the first match point on offer.

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