Ruud had to dig deep into the deciding set, defeating Souza when the Portuguese fall for the title with a score of 5-4 before winning with a score of 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 7-6 (7-1).
Now the 9th world number has won six of the last seven ATP 250 competitions on the ground and became the first player after Stan Wawrinka (2016 and 2017) to win more than one Geneva Open title.
Ruud gave up five aces in the first set on the way to the tie-break, but a resolute Souza was able to equalize in the second set, in which he won eight of 11 points in the second inning.
It looked like Souza would be upset against the second seed of the tournament if he gave a serve in the match, just to have Ruud win back and use that momentum to win.
The Norwegian reached the semi-finals at the Internazionali d’Italia last week and maintained his momentum ahead of the French Open, lifting the trophy in Switzerland.
“It was one of the craziest matches I’ve ever played,” he said. “There have been many ups and downs. Souza was close to winning and then all of a sudden everything turns around and it’s tennis.
“This victory is very good, but we have to pay tribute to Joao, because he fought off one set and played well all week.
“Today was a matter of just one or two points, and thankfully they went in my favor.”
At the Lyon Open, Cameron Nori triumphed when the Briton defeated Alex Molcan 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-1.
Nori, who was defeated by Stefanos Tsitsipas in last year’s final, was mostly at the top, scoring six aces and boasting an impressive 72 percent success rate of first-serve points, and retained five of seven break points against his Slovak rival.
The No. 1 seed could have won the sets in a row, but failed to convert two match points in the second before Molcan forced him to decide.
For Nora, this is the second ATP title of the season and the fourth of her career. This is his first match on the ground as he prepares for the second Grand Slam tournament of the year at Roland Garros.
“This is my first title on the ground, so it’s very important to me,” said Nori. “I can’t be happier with how I’ve handled everything this week. It feels the best so far. I don’t know why, it’s so special and I can’t be happier and now I’m really without There was an incredible atmosphere, thank you all for coming out.
“This week I had a chance to close the matches in a number of sets and make it easier than usual and it didn’t work out and I was able to let it go and respond. In the third set I moved very well and it’s nice to cross the line.”
https://www.beinsports.com/au/atp-tour/news/ruud-wins-geneva-as-norrie-opens-clay-account/1886221
