Estoril 2023: Casper Ruud vs Miomir Kecmanovic Tennis Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 Estoril Open final match featuring Casper Ruud vs Miomir Kecmanovic on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Ruud vs Kecmanovic Match Preview

Miomir Kecmanovic, playing in his second ATP final of the season, will look to get over the line this time. But Casper Ruud is the King of the ATP 250s. Who will walk away with Estoril Open crown?

Casper Ruud is into his first ATP final of the season, and boy did he have to produce his very best tennis under a barrage of pressure from the big-serving Quentin Halys. The Frenchman was having the week of his life at the Estoril Open and came within a tiebreak from reaching his first Tour-level final. Ruud, however, showed why he is unmatched at the ATP 250 level, having amassed more titles than any player in the last three years combined. Will he hoist his first title of the season on Sunday?

Miomir Kecmanovic will stand in Casper Ruud’s way in the final. The Serbian World No. 40 has blasted his way into the final at the Estoril Open without dropping a set and will have another shot at the title after finishing runner-up in Delray less than two months ago. Kecmanovic has a winning record over Ruud, but they haven’t played since 2019.

Ruud vs Kecmanovic Prediction and Pick

Miomir Kecmanovic leads Casper Ruud 2-0 in Tour-level meetings, winning their last encounter at the 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals. Ruud’s path to the Estoril Open final has been marginally tougher. Before this week, it would have been feasible to write off his chances of progressing beyond the quarterfinal. But he has turned the tide, delivering his best performance of the season in beating defending champion Sebastian Baez and then eking out a gutsy win over in-form Quentin Halys. Kecmanovic has also impressed, cantering into the final without dropping a set or a serve. But the fact that Ruud managed to tame a big server like Halys, you’d expect him to have a few bites of the cherry on the Kecmanovic serve. Ruud’s physical endurance on the clay is almost unmatched against players outside the top 10. It’s the one match that could potentially be a turning point in his season. We reckon the Norwegian will keep up his hot streak in 250 finals.