Anything Norrie can do, Ruud can do better. I start this preview with the same phrase I ended the one on Nagal and Shang with. Casper Ruud did survive a scare in the last round, going all the way to a match tiebreak with Max Purcell. That was mainly because the Aussie played some great attacking tennis in their second-round encounter though. Against Cam Norrie, a completely different matchup awaits. The lefty is playing physically, but that won’t do the trick against someone like Ruud who has the same traits to his game, just with some more offensive shots in his repertoire.
Norrie didn’t look great in his win over Giulio Zeppieri where he lost the two opening sets. He also lost a set to Luca Van Assche before having to pull out “at home” in Auckland. Apparently, he’s not 100% fit which is not a good sign when your play is based around consistency and court coverage. Ruud should be able to take advantage of that, especially with his heavy forehand. The Norwegian only allowed two breaks in eight sets so far at the Australian Open, and while there might be some regression with that against a good returner in Norrie, I can see him putting pressure on the majority of Norrie’s service games. If Norrie doesn’t suddenly find his form and fitness, this should be 3-0 or 3-1 in favor of Ruud.
Suggested Bets:
0.75u on Casper Ruud -1.5 sets at 1.88 (-114) with Pinnacle
0.75u on Over 6.5 breaks at 1.83 (-120) with bet365
Over 18s Only (21+ in some jurisdictions). 1 unit = 1% of bankroll. These are my bets that I am making. Please enjoy your betting responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and do not chase a loss.